Minor NFL Transactions: 5/16/23
XFL additions and other post-rookie minicamp moves led to some action on the waiver wire Tuesday. As other teams add talent from the latest XFL effort, here are the latest NFL moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: RB B.J. Baylor
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Ayinde Eley, DL Antwuan Jackson, WR Gary Jennings, WR Marquez Stevenson, LB/TE Jordan Thomas
- Waived/injured: S Nico Bolden
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Chris Westry
Detroit Lions
- Signed: K John Parker Romo
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed (from Dolphins): T DJ Scaife
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Ian Swenson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Sammis Reyes
- Released: S Deionte Thompson
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed (from Saints): DB Vincent Gray
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: FB Zach Ojile, OL Sam Schlueter
New York Giants
- Released from PUP (via injury settlement): S Terrell Burgess
New York Jets
- Claimed (from Falcons): CB Javelin Guidry
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Charleston Rambo
- Waived: T Jarrid Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed (from Cardinals): DL Manny Jones
- Placed on IR: DT Renell Wren
A former 60-meter dash finalist at the U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championships, Guidry has bounced around the league. But the Jets are bringing back the young cornerback. Guidry played 28 games for the team from 2020-21. A fellow DB, Westry started two games for the Ravens in 2021; he will relocate to Cleveland.
Jackson, Jennings and Thomas all played in the XFL this season and auditioned for the Panthers at their recent rookie minicamp. The Panthers tried Thomas at both tight end and linebacker over the weekend. Although Thomas played in the most recent XFL effort, he was in Colts camp — under current Panthers HC Frank Reich — in 2021. This is Jennings’ seventh NFL stop. The former Seahawks fourth-round pick has not played in the NFL since his 2019 rookie year in Seattle.
Romo joins a Lions team carrying Michael Badgley as its incumbent kicker. The younger specialist has not yet kicked in an NFL game, but the former Virginia Tech kicker played in the XFL this season, making 17 of 19 field goal tries. This included a 57-yarder.
Panthers Announce 13 UDFA Signings
The Panthers won’t officially sign their undrafted rookies until next week’s minicamp, but the organization still went ahead and announced their 13-man UDFA class:
- DE Jalen Redmond (Oklahoma)
- OLB Travez Moore (Arizona State)
- OLB Eku Leota (Auburn)
- ILB Austin Ajiake (UNLV)
- ILB Bumper Pool (Arkansas)
- CB Colby Richardson (LSU)
- CB Mark Milton (Baylor)
- CB Rejzohn Wright (Oregon State)
- S Nico Bolden (Kent State)
- RB Cam Peoples (Appalachian State)
- WR Josh Vann (South Carolina)
- OT Ricky Lee (North Carolina A&T)
- OG Nash Jensen (North Dakota State)
The Panthers were busy adding linebackers, signing four players at the position. Bumper Pool is the most notable of the bunch, with the linebacker having a productive collegiate career at Arkansas (441 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks). Pool likely would have heard his name called during the draft if not for a hip injury that derailed his final season. Meanwhile, Eku Leota could carve out a role on the edge for Chicago, with the Auburn product compiling 15.5 sacks during his college career.
Cam Peoples was a surprise UDFA after he collected 2,830 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns during his time at Appalachian State. At 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds, the rookie profiles as more of a power back, a role that he could easily fill with Carolina. Josh Vann is now the third South Carolina wideout on the Panthers’ roster, joining Damiere Byrd and Shi Smith.