NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/2/25
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Jared Bartlett, DT Denzel Daxon
- Released: T Roy Mbaeteka
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Simeon Barrow Jr., OLB Ronnie Perkins
- Released: T Brandon Parker
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Thayer Thomas
- Released: CB Quinton Newsome
New England Patriots
- Released: DT Jahvaree Ritzie
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Eku Leota
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: WR Robert Woods
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Anthony Campbell, DE Jalan Gaines, G Sataoa Laumea
- Released: CB Shemar Jean-Charles, T Amari Kight, RB Damien Martinez
Washington Commanders
- Signed: G Darrian Dalcourt
The 12-year veteran wide receiver, Woods, had been signed to the Steelers’ practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster. Per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Woods requested to be released from his practice squad contract but told Pittsburgh that he would be open to returning if a spot on the active roster opened up for him. The team granted his request.
The Cardinals are able to add two players while only releasing one because Daxon is part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, having been born in the Bahamas. Teams can have one more than the 16-player limit for their practice squad, as long as the 17th players is in the IPPP.
Per Brady Henderson of ESPN, it’s believed that the Seahawks have made this transaction as a courtesy to Campbell, Gaines, and Laumea, who’ve all spent most of the offseason in Seattle with the team. This week on the practice squad will potentially get each player a minimum check for $13K, but the Seahawks are expected to bring Martinez and Jean-Charles back to the p-squad. The same has yet to be confirmed for Kight.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC West
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 Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders moves are noted below.
Denver Broncos
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Levelle Bailey, WR Michael Bandy, QB Sam Ehlinger, TE Caleb Lohner, C Joe Michalski, DT Jordan Miller, CB Quinton Newsome, WR A.T. Perry, FB Adam Prentice, CB Jaden Robinson, DB Keidron Smith, CB Reese Taylor, OL Calvin Throckmorton, LB Jordan Turner, S Delarrin Turner-Yell, LB Garret Wallow
Kansas City Chiefs
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Cole Christiansen, S Mike Edwards, Chukwuebuka Godrick, G C.J. Hanson, WR Jimmy Holiday, DT Coziah Izzard, CB Kevin Knowles, QB Chris Oladokun, WR Hal Presley, CB Melvin Smith, RB Carson Steele, TE Robert Tonyan, DT Marlon Tuipulotu, TE Tre Watson
Las Vegas Raiders
Signed:
Claimed:
- LB Brennan Jackson (from Rams)
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Alex Bachman, RB Chris Collier, S Terrell Edmunds, DE Jahfari Harvey, WR Sheldrick Jackson, LB Matt Jones, DT Treven Ma’ae, G Atonio Mafi, QB Cam Miller, TE Albert Okwuegbunam, TE Carter Runyon, WR Justin Shorter, OL Laki Tasi, S Trey Taylor, CB Greedy Vance, T Dalton Wagner, S JT Woods
Los Angeles Chargers
Signed:
Placed on IR:
- CB Eric Rogers
Signed to practice squad:
- G Karsen Barnhart, DL TeRah Edwards, CB Harrison Hand, WR JaQuae Jackson, S Tony Jefferson, RB Emany Johnson, C Josh Kaltenberger, LS Rick Lovato, RB Nyheim Miller-Hines, CB Myles Purchase, OLB Garmon Randolph, WR Jalen Reagor, T David Sharpe, G Branson Taylor, QB DJ Uiagalelei, RB Kimani Vidal, TE Thomas Yassmin
Broncos Place FB Michael Burton On IR, Cut 27 Players
The Broncos continued their (mostly) ongoing streak of UDFA rookies making the active roster. Linebacker Karene Reid has made the 53-man roster, marking the 21st time in the past 22 years that a college free agent has made the Broncos as a first-year player.
The rest of the team’s moves:
Released:
Waived:
- LB Levelle Bailey
- WR Michael Bandy
- OT Marques Cox
- RB Audric Estime
- WR Courtney Jackson
- TE Caleb Lohner
- CB Damarri Mathis
- C Joe Michalski
- NT Jordan Miller
- LB Garrett Nelson
- CB Quinton Newsome
- WR Jerjuan Newton
- WR A.T. Perry
- TE Caden Prieskorn
- CB Jaden Robinson
- WR Kyrese Rowan
- G William Sherman
- DB Keidron Smith
- CB Reese Taylor
- LB Jordan Turner
- S Delarrin Turner-Yell
- RB Blake Watson (injury settlment)
Waived/injured:
- DT Kristian Williams
Placed on IR (designated for return):
- LB Drew Sanders
Placed on IR:
Fullback Michael Burton won’t play for the Broncos this season, as Sean Payton revealed that the veteran suffered a hamstring injury that required surgery (per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). The 33-year-old appeared in every game for Denver over the past two seasons, garnering reps in about 17 percent of his team’s offensive snaps and 63 percent of his team’s special teams snaps. Over that span, Burton collected 90 yards from scrimmage on 27 touches, and he’s added another 10 special teams stops.
A number of these players could land back on the practice squad. Assuming they pass through waivers, it sounds like the following players are destined for Denver’s practice squad: wideout Michael Bandy (per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver), offensive lineman Joe Michalski (per Klis), offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton (per Klis), cornerback Jaden Robinson (per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston), and cornerback Reese Taylor (per Tomasson).
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/13/25
Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Arizona Cardinals
- CB Ekow Boye-Doe, LB Elliott Brown, OL McClendon Curtis
Cleveland Browns
- DT Ralph Holley
Denver Broncos
- LB K.J. Cloyd, OLB Andrew Farmer, G Nick Gargiulo, DE Matt Henningsen, DB Tanner McCalister, NT Jordan Miller, CB Quinton Newsome, WR A.T. Perry, OL William Sherman, DB Keidron Smith, CB Reese Taylor, G Calvin Throckmorton, TE Thomas Yassmin
Green Bay Packers
- DL Deslin Alexandre, S Omar Brown, DL James Ester, CB Kamal Hadden, K Alex Hale, G Marquis Hayes, WR Julian Hicks, OL Donovan Jennings, WR Cornelius Johnson, CB Kalen King, DL Jeremiah Martin, TE Messiah Swinson
Los Angeles Chargers
- G Karsen Barnhart, TE McCallan Castles, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, DL Christopher Hinton, LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, WR Jaylen Johnson, LB Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, LB Caleb Murphy, RB Jaret Patterson, S Kendall Williamson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- OT Doug Nester
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/14/24
Monday’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DL Junior Aho
- Released: DL Kenny Oginni
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Quinton Newsome
- Released: WR Kaden Davis
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on injured list: WR T.J. Luther
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Gregory Junior
- Released: TE Chris Myarick
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: K Spencer Shrader
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Lance McCutcheon
- Released: WR Jaray Jenkins
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL McClendon Curtis
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/8/24
Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Matthew Cindric
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Damarion Williams
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Micah Abraham
Cleveland Browns
- Released: LB Michael Barrett, RB Royce Freeman, T Ricky Lee
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Seth Williams, DE Luiji Vilain
Denver Broncos
- Signed: T Cameron Fleming, C Dieter Eiselen, WR Kaden Davis, WR A.T. Perry
- Placed on IR: G William Sherman
- Released: RB Salvon Ahmed, CB Quinton Newsome
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Trent Pennix
New England Patriots
- Signed: C Sincere Haynesworth
- Released: G Jerome Carvin, WR Matt Landers
New York Jets
- Released: LB Anthony Hines
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Ezekiel Turner
- Released: LB Devin Richardson
Washington Commanders
- Released: DE Justin Hollins
Fleming saw time with Denver across each of the past three seasons. The 32-year-old alternated between right and left tackle during that span, and he remained on the team’s radar given his workout in September. Now Fleming, a veteran of 117 games and 62 starts, will be an option to handle a depth role along the O-line once he is elevated to the Broncos’ active roster.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC West
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 Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders moves are noted below.
Denver Broncos
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- RB Tyler Badie, WR Michael Bandy, FB Michael Burton, G Nick Gargiulo, DE Matt Henningsen, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, DB Tanner McCalister, NT Jordan Miller, CB Quinton Newsome, TE Donald Parham, G William Sherman, WR David Sills, CB Reese Taylor, G Calvin Throckmorton, OLB Dondrea Tillman, TE Thomas Yassmin
Kansas City Chiefs
Signed:
Claimed:
- CB Eric Scott Jr.
Waived:
- CB Nic Jones
Signed to practice squad:
- S Deon Bush, TE Baylor Cupp, WR Justyn Ross, QB Bailey Zappe
Las Vegas Raiders
Signed:
Claimed:
- DB Thomas Harper, DT Jonah Laulu
Waived:
- DT Byron Young
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- DE David Agoha, WR Alex Bachman, QB Carter Bradley, G Ben Brown, DT Matthew Butler, WR Jalen Guyton, RB Sincere McCormick, C Will Putnam, S Phalen Sanford, TE John Samuel Shenker, DE Charles Snowden, T Dalton Wagner, CB Sam Webb, WR Kristian Wilkerson
Los Angeles Chargers
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
- DB JT Woods
Signed to practice squad:
- OLB Andrew Farmer, LB Shaquille Quarterman
Broncos Release Tim Patrick, Samaje Perine To Trim Roster To 53
Teams have moved their rosters to 53 players. Here is how the Broncos pared theirs down to the regular-season limit:
Released:
- FB Michael Burton
- WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- C Sam Mustipher
- WR Tim Patrick
- RB Samaje Perine
- WR David Sills
- G Calvin Throckmorton
Waived:
- RB Tyler Badie
- WR Michael Bandy
- DL Elijah Garcia
- G Nick Gargiulo
- DL Matt Henningsen
- OLB Thomas Incoom
- T Demontrey Jacobs
- WR Brandon Johnson
- TE Hunter Kampmoyer
- S Tanner McCalister
- NT Jordan Miller
- CB Quinton Newsome
- G William Sherman
- CB Reese Taylor
- OLB Dondrea Tillman
- WR Jalen Virgil
- TE Thomas Yassmin
Waived/injured:
- OLB Durell Nchami
Placed on reserve/PUP:
IR/designated for return:
Patrick and Perine trades did not come to fruition. Both veterans are heading to free agency. Patrick had been with the Broncos since joining their practice squad in 2017; only Garett Bolles has been on the team longer. But Denver has added several wide receivers under Sean Payton‘s watch. Patrick, a John Elway-era pickup who signed an extension under GM George Paton, became expendable for the younger talent. The 30-year-old wideout has recovered from the ACL and Achilles tears that prevented him from playing a down with Russell Wilson. Humphrey may well be a practice squad option, given his New Orleans past with Payton.
Perine, 28, has been connected to a Bengals return. The veteran backup/pass-down option can now sign anywhere he chooses. Perine set a career high in receiving yardage (455) during his one-and-done Broncos run; Denver’s dead money charge ($1.5MM) will likely be offset if/once Perine lands elsewhere.
Sanders sustained an Achilles tear this offseason. The 2023 third-round pick figures to be in the team’s plans for later this season, but he will miss time — at least four games, per the PUP designation — on his rehab trek. Mathis must also miss four games, having suffered a high ankle sprain. The third-year cornerback is slated to return at some point, and the Broncos are using an IR-return designation, dropping their number from eight to seven to start the season.
Burton was viewed as a safe bet to make the team, and while roster gymnastics — which are less useful now that this IR-return tweak is in the mix — could bring him back, he received word of a release. Burton is a nine-year vet who spent last season with the Broncos. Mustipher signed this offseason but was not viewed as a true contender for the center spot, which appears set to go to 2022 fifth-round pick Luke Wattenberg.
Many of these players figure to be brought back to Denver’s practice squad, which can be set beginning Wednesday. Sixteen players will fill out that unit.
Broncos Re-Sign WR Phillip Dorsett
Phillip Dorsett is returning to Denver. After spending the majority of the 2023 campaign on the Broncos practice squad, the veteran wide receiver is re-signing with the team, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver.
[RELATED: Latest On Broncos, WR Courtland Sutton]
The former first-round pick earned bust status during his time with the Colts, but he’s still managed to hang around the NFL for almost a decade. His best season came back in 2016 when he topped 500 receiving yards in Indy. He also didn’t look helpless during his three-year run in New England, including a 2019 season where he finished with 397 receiving yards and five touchdowns (he also had a pair of touchdowns during the Patriots’ 2018 Super Bowl run).
Since hitting free agency in 2020, the receiver has bounced around the NFL, spending time with the Seahawks (two stints), Jaguars, Texans, Raiders, and Broncos. He got into 15 games with Houston as recently as 2022, although he only got into a pair of contesets for Denver last season.
Of course, the team’s receiver depth will look different in 2024. Jerry Jeudy has already been shipped out, and Courtland Sutton is away from the team as he seeks a new deal (although the receiver has not requested a trade). The team did bring in free agent Josh Reynolds and selected Troy Franklin in the fourth round, adding the duo to a group of holdovers that also includes Marvin Mims Jr. and Tim Patrick. Dorsett will likely be competing for one of the final spots on the depth chart, although there’s a chance he goes back to his familiar practice squad role.
The Broncos have also signed undrafted cornerback Quinton Newsome and waived undrafted receiver Lincoln Victor and undrafted punter Nik Constantinou. Newsome emerged as one of Nebraska’s best defenders over the past few years. The defensive back finished his college career with 147 tackles, 17 passes defended, and one interception. He also was a standout special teams player, perhaps hinting at his potential role in Denver.
Broncos Sign 13 UDFAs
With rookie minicamps underway, the final batch of UDFA hauls are coming into focus. Here is the Broncos’ 13-man group:
- Cam Allen, S (Purdue)
- Jaylon Allen, OLB (Memphis)
- Levelle Bailey, ILB (Fresno State)
- Omar Brown, S (Nebraska)
- Nik Constantinou, P (Texas A&M)
- Frank Crum, T (Wyoming)
- Dylan Leonard, TE (Georgia Tech)
- Brandon Matterson, DT (Texas-San Antonio)
- Jordan Miller, DT (SMU)
- Alec Mock, LB (Air Force)
- Lincoln Victor, WR (Washington State)
- Blake Watson, RB (Memphis)
- Thomas Yassmin, TE (Utah)
The Broncos were believed to be targeting tight ends this offseason, but the team did not draft any or add an outside veteran free agent. This stands to place importance once again on 2022 third-rounder Greg Dulcich shaking off his chronic hamstring trouble. Neither of the tight ends in this UDFA class profile as players who would help on the receiving front immediately. A blocking tight end, Leonard did not eclipse 175 receiving yards in any of his five Yellowjackets seasons. Yassmin came to Utah after being noticed at a rugby camp; the ex-Dalton Kincaid Utes teammate showed some promise in 2022, catching 13 passes for 301 yards. He trudged through an injury-shortened 2023 season.
Constantinou will challenge veteran Riley Dixon for the Broncos’ punting job; Denver reacquired Dixon last year, giving him a $3.5MM deal. No guarantees remain on the eight-year veteran’s contract. An Australia native, Constantinou was a first-team All-SEC honoree in 2021 and second-team punter in 2022.
Watson received a $250K salary guarantee and a $25K bonus, 9News’ Mike Klis notes. An Old Dominion transfer, Watson impressed as an outlet option in his one season at Memphis. He totaled 480 receiving yards to go with 1,152 on the ground in 2023. He will join a suddenly crowded Denver backfield, which houses Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin and fifth-round pick Audric Estime. Brown and Crum each received $250K in total guarantees, according to Klis, coming in just south of Watson’s mark. Brown transferred from Northern Iowa to Nebraska, while Crum made 49 starts (36 at right tackle, 13 at left tackle) for Wyoming. Crum’s 2023 season at LT earned him first-team All-Mountain West Conference acclaim.
Not listed here, Nebraska cornerback Quinton Newsome is set to sign for $100K in total guarantees, Klis adds. The Broncos will need to cut one more player to make room on their 90-man roster, according to the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Newsome was a three-year Cornhuskers starter who saw his draft stock hurt by a December shoulder surgery.