Minor NFL Transactions: 8/28/19
We’ll keep track of today’s roster shuffling here as teams gear up for major cuts at the end of the week:
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: DE Mike Love
- Waived: P Corey Carter
- Waived from IR: OL De’Ondre Wesley
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LS Andrew DePaola
- Placed on IR: DT Destiny Vaeao
Chicago Bears
- Claimed off waivers: OL Tommy Doles
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB James Williams
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Jackson Porter
- Waived (failed physical): LB Nicholas Grigsby
Houston Texans
- Waived: DB Deante Burton, DB Derrick Jones
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived from injured reserve: RB Roc Thomas
New England Patriots
- Waived from injured reserve: WR Maurice Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OT Riley Mayfield
- Placed on IR: WR Charles Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: TE Cole Wick
- Waive/injured: OLB Josh Smith
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: T Will Holden, DE Logan Tago
- Waived: DT Jay-Tee Tiuli
Bills Release WR Kelvin Benjamin
The Bills released wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Andre Holmes, according to a team press release. The release of Benjamin is particularly shocking given his resume. 
Benjamin came to the Bills in a blockbuster trade deadline deal last year. Since then, Benjamin has logged just 40 catches in 19 games, including the team’s low-scoring playoff loss to the Jaguars.
Because this year’s trade deadline is in the rear view mirror, both Benjamin and Holmes will be subject to waivers, even though they are both vested veterans. Benjamin is likely to find a new home whether he’s claimed or not, and that will mark his third team in 13 months.
Any team claiming Benjamin off waivers would be responsible for the remaining prorated portion of his base salary, which comes out to a little under $2MM. It’s a high price to pay, but Benjamin could make for an interesting rental since he is due for unrestricted free agency in March. Of course, if he is not claimed, the Bills will be on the hook for that cash.
There was no weird behind the scenes incident to prompt the release of either player, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Rather, the Bills simply wanted to get younger and audition players who factor into their plans for 2019 and beyond.
Benjamin, 27, has just 23 catches for 354 yards and one touchdown in 12 games this season, numbers that are a far cry from his best seasons with the Panthers. His conditioning has been questioned by many, his route running errors been glaring, and he no longer appears to be on the path to superstardom. A change of scenery may help Benjamin, but he’ll have to really explode down the stretch in order to position himself for a lucrative free agent deal.
Holmes, 30, was barely involved in the offense for Buffalo. In his 12 games, Holmes had just 12 grabs for 157 yards and zero scores.
In related moves, the Bills also promoted defensive end Mike Love and cornerback Denzel Rice to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Justin Zimmer
- Waived: S Keith Tandy
- Placed on IR: LS Josh Harris
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jalen Tolliver, DE Vontarrius Dora
- Placed on IR: DT Olsen Pierre
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Mike Love, CB Denzel Rice
- Placed on IR: C Russell Bodine
Denver Broncos
- Waived: OT Cyrus Kouandjio
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Kendall Donnerson
- Placed on IR: S Ibraheim Campbell
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers from Jaguars: CB Dee Delaney
- Placed on IR: TE A.J. Derby
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Damontre Moore
- Waived: DL Fadol Brown
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Trey Edwards
- Placed on IR: WR Justin Hunter
Washington Redskins
- Signed: OG Zac Kerin, LB/DE Marcus Smith
- Placed on IR: OG Jonathan Cooper
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills
Claimed:
Cut:
Practice squad:
- RB Keith Ford
- DE Mike Love
- S Dean Marlowe
- WR Cam Phillips
- LB Corey Thompson
- OL Gerhard de Beer
- CB Levi Wallace
- OL De’Ondre Wesley
Miami Dolphins
Claimed:
- QB Luke Falk
- WR Tanner McEvoy
Placed on injured reserve:
- C Jake Brendel
- LB Mike Hull
Cut:
Practice squad:
- G Isaac Asiata
- WR Leonte Carroo
- WR Isaiah Ford
- CB Jalen Davis
- C Connor Hilland
- RB Jeremy Langford
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- DL Jamiyus Pittman
- LB Quentin Poling
- DL Jonathan Woodard
New England Patriots
Claimed:
- WR Chad Hansen
- WR Amara Darboh
Placed on injured reserve:
Practice squad:
- OL Cole Croston
- QB Danny Etling
- OL James Ferentz
- DL Trent Harris
- WR Riley McCarron
- DT Vincent Valentine
- RB Ralph Webb
- CB Jomal Wiltz
New York Jets
Practice squad:
- DB Brandon Bryant
- DB Jeremy Clark
- LB Frankie Luvu
- LB Anthony Wint
Bills Move Roster To 53 Players
The Bills have moved their roster to 53 players but cutting the following:
- DE Mat Boesen
- OG Ike Boettger
- DB Breon Borders
- DB Ryan Carter
- WR Kaelin Clay
- WR Corey Coleman
- OT Gerhard de Beer
- WR Malachi Dupre
- RB Keith Ford
- DT Rickey Hatley
- DE Albert Havili
- OT Josh James
- DE Mike Love
- DB Dean Marlowe
- TE Nick O’Leary
- WR Cam Phillips
- OT Mo Porter
- WR Austin Proehl
- C Adam Redmond
- WR Brandon Reilly
- RB Sam Rogers
- DE Ryan Russell
- LB Corey Thompson
- TE Keith Towbridge
- LB Tanner Vallejo
- DB Levi Wallace
- OT De’Ondre Wesley
- LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
- RB Travaris Cadet
- DE Terrence Fede
- DB Kelcie McCray
- P Jon Ryan
- WR Rod Streater
- DT Tyrunn Walker
Buffalo will take on dead money by releasing Coleman, whom it acquired from Cleveland earlier this year. Ryan lost out in the punting battle to Colton Schmidt.
Bills Sign 12 UDFAs
The Bills have added a dozen undrafted free agents to their roster. Here’s the list, in full:
- G Gerhard de Beer (Arizona)
- DE Mat Boesen (TCU)
- OT Ike Boettger (Iowa)
- CB Ryan Carter (Clemson)
- K Tyler Davis (Penn State)
- RB Keith Ford (Texas A&M)
- WR Robert Foster (Alabama)
- DE Mike Love (South Florida)
- OT Mo Porter (Baylor)
- WR Cam Phillips (Virginia Tech)
- LB Corey Thompson (LSU)
- CB Levi Wallace (Alabama)
Foster played for Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll at the University of Alabama, so Daboll is already familiar with what he provides. He wasn’t a major contributor in college, but he did have 14 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown last year. Foster impressed evaluators at the combine with a 4.41 second 40-yard-dash and his build gives the Bills some hope that he can stick at the next level.
Phillips, on the other hand, was a big performer in college. At Virginia Tech, he caught 147 passes in his final two seasons for nearly 2,100 yards and 12 TDs.