Minor NFL Transactions: 9/22/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Keanu Neal; as a high-risk close contact, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota (on Twitter), Neal can return after a five-day isolation period
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Micah Kiser (story)
- Promoted: RB Damarea Crockett
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: CB Daryl Worley (story)
- Placed on IR: Ifeatu Melifonwu (story)
Houston Texans
- Promoted: K Joey Slye
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: LB Marquel Lee
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Harrison Hand
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: DT Naquan Jones
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South
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 Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Houston Texans
Signed to practice squad:
- TE Antony Auclair, DB Shyheim Carter, QB Jeff Driskel, OL Hjalte Froholdt, OL Carson Green, CB Isaiah Johnson, OL Ryan McCollum, WR Chris Moore, LB Hardy Nickerson, S Jonathan Owens, CB Antonio Phillips, TE Paul Quessenberry, DE Derek Rivers, OL Lane Taylor, WR Jordan Veasy
Indianapolis Colts
Claimed:
- DB Thakarius Keyes (from Chiefs), DB Chris Wilcox (from Buccaneers)
Waived:
- S Andre Chachere, CB Marvell Tell
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Tarik Black, LB Curtis Bolton, DT Andrew Brown, CB Anthony Chesley, DE Kameron Cline, WR Keke Coutee, S Sean Davis, S Shawn Davis, TE Farrod Green, WR DeMichael Harris, QB Brett Hundley, C Joey Hunt, RB Deon Jackson, LB Malik Jefferson, OT Carter O’Donnell, WR Tyler Vaughns
Jacksonville Jaguars
Claimed:
- WR Tyron Johnson (from Chargers; story)
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Lorenzo Burns, DT Doug Costin, WR Jeff Cotton Jr., RB Nathan Cottrell, WR Phillip Dorsett, WR Josh Hammond, OL K.C. McDermott, RB Devine Ozigbo, DB Brandon Rusnak, WR Devin Smith, Badara Traore, WR Laquon Treadwell, OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms
Tennessee Titans
Claimed:
- OL Corey Levin (from Jets)
Released:
- QB Matt Barkley
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, S Jamal Carter, FB Tory Carter, OL Christian DiLauro, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, TE Miller Forristall, OL Derwin Gray, DL Woodrow Hamilton, LB Jan Johnson, WR Mason Kinsey, DL Naquan Jones, OL Jordan Roos
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list:
Titans Reduce Roster To 53
The Titans have officially trimmed their roster to 53 players. Tennessee made the following moves:
Waived
-
- OL Cole Banwart
- DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
- WR Fred Brown
- DB Jamal Carter
- FB Tory Carter
- OL Christian DiLauro
- WR Dez Fitzpatrick
- TE Miller Forristall
- OL Derwin Gray
- DL Woodrow Hamilton
- RB Javian Hawkins
- LB Jan Johnson
- DL Naquan Jones
- WR Mason Kinsey
- TE Jared Pinkney
- LB Wyatt Ray
- OL Jordan Roos
A pair of wideouts headline this list of waived players. Fitzpatrick was a fourth-round pick by the organization in this past year’s draft. The 6-foot-2 receiver was a standout during his stint at Louisville, leading to the Titans trading three picks to move up and select him. The rookie could end up falling through to the practice squad, but considering his draft stock, there’s a chance another team will claim him.
Meanwhile, Kinsey was an unheralded acquisition, but he made a name for himself following a strong preseason. The wideout finished August with 14 receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown.
Titans Sign 10 UDFAs
If you’re a big fan of undrafted free agents, we’ve got TEN more for you. The Titans announced today that they’ve added 10 rookies to their roster:
- OL Cole Banwart, Iowa
- FB Tory Carter, LSU
- TE Miller Forristall, Alabama
- K Blake Haubeil, Ohio State
- OL Chandon Herring, Brigham Young
- DL Naquan Jones, Michigan State
- TE Briley Moore, Kansas State
- LB Justus Reed, Virginia Tech
- RB Mekhi Sargent, Iowa
- P James Smith, Cincinnati
Who were the big earners? Carter earned $50K guaranteed, which includes $37.5K of his base salary (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter). Jones got $45K in guaranteed money, which includes $35K in base salary and a $10K signing bonus (via Wilson), while Forristall received $23K in guaranteed money (via Wilson).
Per usual with these kind of signings, the special teams additions are especially interesting. It doesn’t seem like veteran kicker Stephen Gostkowski will be back, meaning Haubeil will likely be competing with 2020 undrafted free agent Tucker McCann for the kicking gig. It’d be more difficult for Smith to make the roster considering the presence of Pro Bowler Brett Kern, but the team could be starting to prepare for the veteran punter’s inevitable retirement.