Bills Set 53-Man Roster
After waiving six players yesterday, the Bills cut 18 more players today to get themselves down to the 53-man roster limit:
Released:
- DT Eli Ankou (injury settlement)
- QB Matt Barkley
- WR Tanner Gentry
- TE O.J. Howard (story)
- RB Duke Johnson (story)
- OL Greg Mancz
Waived:
- OL Alec Anderson
- RB Raheem Blackshear
- DT C.J. Brewer
- DT Brandin Bryant
- DT Prince Emili
- LB Joe Giles-Harris
- WR Isaiah Hodgins
- DB Ja’Marcus Ingram
- DE Kingsley Jonathan
- DE Mike Love
- DB Nick McCloud
- OL Luke Tenuta
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- CB Tre’Davious White (story)
Placed on reserve/suspended:
- LB Andre Smith
We heard about some of Buffalo’s bigger moves earlier today, including the release of O.J. Howard and Duke Johnson. Greg Mancz is one of the most experienced players to get cut, with the veteran having appeared in 63 games across seven NFL seasons. His positional versatility was expected to land him a roster spot as a backup offensive lineman, but the team ultimately opted for a younger option. Mancz certainly didn’t help his case when he missed the preseason finale while recovering from a foot injury suffered during practice.
Tanner Gentry and Alec Anderson are both candidates to return to Buffalo via the practice squad. Gentry has bounced on and off the Bills roster over the previous two seasons without getting into a game. Anderson started 10 games at UCLA last year before landing with the Bills as an undrafted rookie.
Matt Barkley has spent the past four seasons in Buffalo. He got into eight games with the Bills between 2018 and 2020, completing 53 of his 97 pass attempts for 788 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions. He was demoted to QB3 in 2021 following the acquisition of Mitchell Trubisky, and Barkley didn’t end up seeing the field last year. He was eyeing a similar role in 2022 with Case Keenum now serving as Josh Allen‘s primary backup.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/24/22
Here are Monday’s reserve/futures deals:
Atlanta Falcons
Buffalo Bills
- DT Brandin Bryant, OL Jacob Capra, WR Tanner Gentry , LB Joe Giles-Harris, CB Olaijah Griffin (two-year deal), CB Tim Harris, WR Isaiah Hodgins , DE Mike Love, CB Nick McCloud, TE Quintin Morris, S Josh Thomas
New Orleans Saints
- RB Josh Adams, WR Kirk Merritt
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- K Jose Borregales, RB Kenjon Barner, TE Codey McElroy, G John Molchon, OLB Elijah Ponder, DL Benning Potoa’e, DL Willington Previlon, DL Kobe Smith, CB Rashard Robinson, S Troy Warner
Tennessee Titans
- S Jamal Carter, OL Christian DiLauro, TE Austin Fort, OL Derwin Gray, QB Kevin Hogan, WR Cody Hollister, LB Joe Jones, WR Mason Kinsey, OL Daniel Munyer, OL Jordan Roos, LB Tuzar Skipper
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/22/22
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: DB Nick McCloud, DB Josh Thomas
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: DB Blake Countess, S Eric Weddle
- Designated for return: RB Darrell Henderson, DL Sebastian Joseph-Day, DB Robert Rochell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: RB Leonard Fournette (story)
- Promoted: WR John Brown, TE Ryan Griffin
- Released: RB Le’Veon Bell
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/8/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S Jordan Richards
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Nick McCloud
Carolina Panthers
- Suspension lifted: DE Frank Herron (will remain on PS injured list)
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on COVID-19 list: OT Timon Parris
New England Patriots
- Released: C Drake Jackson, FB Ben Mason
New York Giants
- Released: RB Dexter Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Alex Tchangam
Washington Football Team
- Signed: C Jon Toth
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC North
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 Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Baltimore Ravens
Signed to practice squad:
- OT Adrian Ealy, NT Justin Ellis, LB Blake Gallagher, DB Anthony Levine, QB Trace McSorley, WR Jaylon Moore, TE Tony Poljan, DB Jordan Richards, OT Andre Smith, DE Chris Smith, P Johnny Townsend, K Jake Verity, WR Benjamin Victor
Cincinnati Bengals
Claimed:
- DB Nick McCloud (from Bills), DE Wyatt Ray (from Titans)
Released:
- WR Mike Thomas
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Joe Bachie, CB Tony Brown, P Drue Chrisman, S Trayvon Henderson, LB Keandre Jones, TE Thaddeus Moss, RB Jacques Patrick, CB Winston Rose, TE Mason Schreck, DE Noah Spence, G Keaton Sutherland, WR Trent Taylor, DT Renell Wren, RB Pooka Williams, RB Trayveon Williams
Cleveland Browns
Signed:
- DE Joe Jackson
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
-
WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, DT Sheldon Day, TE Jordan Franks, DE Porter Gustin, RB John Kelly, LB Elijah Lee, S Jovante Moffatt, QB Nick Mullens (story), WR JoJo Natson, FB Johnny Stanton, OL Jordan Steckler, DE Curtis Weaver
Pittsburgh Steelers
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Daniel Archibong, WR Rico Bussey, FB Trey Edmunds, DB Mark Gilbert, OT Chaz Green, S Karl Joseph, OL John Leglue, LB Christian Miller, G Malcolm Pridgeon, TE Kevin Rader, RB Jaylen Samuels, WR Steven Sims, DB Donovan Stiner, LB Derrek Tuszka, WR Cody White
Bills Trim Roster To 53
The Bills cut 23 players from their roster today, making it to the 53-man limit. The team announced the following moves:
Released
- OL Jordan Devey
- OL Jamil Douglas
- LS Reid Ferguson
- T Bobby Hart
- TE Jacob Hollister
Waived
- G Jack Anderson
- TE Nate Becker
- DT Brandin Bryant
- QB Jake Fromm
- WR Tanner Gentry
- LB Joe Giles-Harris
- CB Olaijah Griffin
- WR Isaiah Hodgins
- LB Marquel Lee
- CB Cam Lewis
- DE Mike Love
- CB Nick McCloud
- TE Quintin Morris
- WR Steven Sims
- S Josh Thomas
- QB Davis Webb
- CB Rachad Wildgoose
- RB Antonio Williams
As Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic points out, cutting Lewis came as a bit of a surprise considering the Bills’ lack of depth at cornerback. However, the reporter believes that today’s move is an indication that the team isn’t concerned about injuries to Levi Wallace, Dane Jackson and Taron Johnson. Lewis, a 2019 undrafted free agent, finished last season with seven tackles in five games (two starts). If he passes through waivers, he’ll likely end up on Buffalo’s practice squad.
Bills Sign 6 UDFAs
The Bills became the latest team to officially announce their UDFA class as rookie minicamps approach. Buffalo had a small one, only inking six guys. Here they are:
- CB Olaijah Griffin, USC
- CB Nick McCloud, Notre Dame
- TE Quintin Morris, Bowling Green
- S Tariq Thompson, SDSU
- OL Syrus Tuitele, Fresno State
- WR Tre Walker, San Jose State
Griffin is a cool one, since his dad is influential rapper Warren G. Buffalo signed Jacob Hollister this offseason but still don’t have a ton at tight end, so Morris could have a real chance of making the roster. He led Bowling Green in receiving the past two seasons, and had 649 yards and four touchdowns in 2019, his last full campaign.
Thompson was very productive in college as a four-year starter for the Aztecs. From his freshman-senior seasons, he racked up 11 interceptions, five fumble recoveries, and five forced fumbles. Tuitele is the cousin of current Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa.