August 28th, 2016 at 2:36pm CST by Dallas Robinson
The Panthers have begun the process of trimming their roster down to 75 players, an undertaking that must be completed by 3pm CT Tuesday. Carolina has cut the following 11 players, the club announced:
Hill, a former second-round pick of the Jets, is the most notable name among those released/waived. The 25-year-old, who spent the 2014 campaign on the Panthers’ practice squad, looked poised to claim a roster spot last season before suffering a season-ending injury. Smith, for his part, also has significant NFL experience, as he’s appeared 29 career games.
4:17pm: The Panthers worked out former Georgia defensive linemen James DeLoach and Ray Drew today, a source tells Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter). However, the team is not expected to sign either player at this point.
11:26am: The Panthers are looking at defensive ends and defensive tackles in the wake of two injuries to their defensive line unit, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer tweets. Panthers defensive tackle Chas Alecxih was carted off after hurting his left knee during a blocking drill on Sunday and its feared that the injury is season-ending. Meanwhile, defensive end Rakim Cox is being evaluated for a back injury.
Alecxih, 27, spent last season on the Panthers’ taxi squad. Encouraged by his work in practice, the Panthers inked the defensive tackle to a futures contract in February. Alexcih was hoping to crack the 53-man roster this year, but it now seems that he won’t get the opportunity. Cox, a Villanova product, hooked on with the Panthers after impressing in the veteran combine of 2015. Like Alexhih, Cox also spent the 2015 season on the taxi squad and signed a futures deal in the winter.
Any defensive tackle that joins the Panthers may face an uphill battle for making the team Paul Soliai and Kyle Love are already battling over the team’s fourth (and likely final) defensive tackle spot. Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, and first-round pick Vernon Butler are guaranteed places on the roster, leaving Soliai and Love to compete for the last opening. The Panthers handed Soliai $3MM fully guaranteed less than five months ago, so it would be a surprise to see him get cut loose.
The Buccaneers have signed running back Storm Johnson to a two-year contract, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. The former Miami, UCF, and Jags tailback is now slated to compete for the backup running back job this fall in Tampa. The former seventh-round pick had some hype behind him in Jacksonville but never broke out in the way that coaches and fantasy owners hoped he would.
The Browns announced that they have signed wide receiver Saalim Hakim, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal tweets. Hakim participated in voluntary minicamp last week with Cleveland on a tryout basis and apparently made a strong impression on team brass. Hakim originally entered the league as a UDFA with Dallas in 2012.
The Saints have released second-year defensive end Tavaris Barnes, a league source tells Evan Woodbery of The Times Picayune (on Twitter). Barnes, a Clemson product, appeared in 12 games for New Orleans in 2015.
The Lions have signed punter Kyle Christy, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets. Interestingly, Birkett tweets that Christy could serve to save the legs of Sam Martin and possibly Matt Prater in camp. Reading between the lines, it does not sound like Christy has a great chance of actually hooking on in Detroit.
The Packers have waived defensive end Ray Drew, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes. Drew, a street free agent signed in March, lasted only one week into the team’s offseason workout program. Drew spent part of the 2015 season on Cleveland’s taxi squad.
The Bears announced (on Twitter) that they have re-signed tight end Rob Housler to a one-year deal. The former Cardinals tight end had some productive years in Arizona in 2012 and 2013, but saw his role reduced in 2014 before leaving the team in free agency. In December 2015, he found his way to Chicago.
The Falcons signed Charles Godfrey, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The safety is slated to earn $965K between his $885K base salary and $80K signing bonus.
The Packers have signed defensive end Ray Drew, a street free agent from Georgia, a source tells ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky. Drew spent time on the Browns practice squad last year as a rookie. He originally signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.
The Raidersannounced the signing of linebacker Daren Bates. Bates played in 44 games for the Rams over the last three seasons after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2013.
The Packers worked out running backs Bronson HIll and Ross Scheuerman (Twitter link via Wilson).
The Jets tried out linebacker Glenn Carson, offensive tackle Sean Hickey, tight end Marcel Jensen, guard Cole Manhardt and defensive back Robert Nelson, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports (on Twitter).
The Giants worked out long snappers Andrew East and Tyler Ott before signing Danny Aiken, per Howard Balzer (Twitter link).
Through three weeks of the season, teams are re-evaluating their rosters due to injuries and performance, and are always tinkering with the back end of their roster and practice squads.
Here are a few players who are being called in for workouts with a chance to make a roster:
We already heard the Steelerswill be working outKai Forbath and Chris Boswell on Saturday in the wake of Josh Scobee‘s rough Thursday night. They are also bringing in former Texans kicker Randy Bullock, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter).
Undrafted free agent quarterback Philip Sims, who spent time with the Cardinals earlier this season, has a workout scheduled with the Packers on Tuesday, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter).
Former Georgia defensive end Ray Drew worked out for the Browns earlier today, writes Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter). She adds the team could sign him to the practice squad next week.
3:37pm: The Dolphins have added a couple more UDFAs to their roster, tweeting word of Marshall linebacker Neville Hewitt‘s signing, and listing former Maine wideout Damarr Aultman on their minicamp roster. Aultman got a $1.5K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson (Twitter link).
10:09am: The Dolphins are the latest team to officially confirm their undrafted free agent signings, announcing (via Twitter) the 14 players they’ve added to their roster. Here are the team’s newest additions:
