Minor Moves: Saturday
We’ll continue to update you on all of today’s minor transactions right here, with the latest moves added to the top…
- In addition to cutting Gabe Miller, as noted below, the Redskins have also waived defensive lineman Robert Thomas, who had been promoted from the practice squad for Thursday’s game, the team announced today (Twitter link). I expect if Thomas clears waivers, there’s a good chance he’ll rejoin Washington’s taxi squad.
- The Colts have promoted linebacker Andrew Jackson to their active roster, tweets Aaron Wilson. To make room, the team waived-injured fullback Mario Harvey.
Earlier updates:
- The Panthers have signed running back Tauren Poole from their practice squad, tweets Wilson. The team also placed offensive tackle Garry Williams on injured reserve.
- The Patriots have signed defensive lineman Casey Walker from the Panthers‘ practice squad, the team announced. To make room, the Pats placed defensive lineman Sealver Siliga on injured reserve with a designation to return.
- The Redskins have waived linebacker Gabe Miller, tweets agent Brett Tessler. The 26-year-old was originally drafted by the Chiefs as a defensive end. He was converted to a tight end during his stops with the Seahawks and Bears before returning to defense with Washington. He made his first career tackle on Thursday against the Giants.
Minor Moves: Thursday
We’ll keep tabs on Thursday’s practice squad signings as cuts, as well as minor 53-man roster transactions, in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day….
- Can the Ravens just make up their minds already? A source tells Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun that the club has re-signed wide receiver Deonte Thompson to the practice squad. Thompson, who was released twice by Baltimore in five days, will earn more than the usual $6,300 per week that taxi squad players make. The speedy receiver will bump someone from the practice squad but it’s not yet known who will be dropped to make room.
Earlier updates:
- The only team in the NFL that came into today with a spot available on its 53-man roster has filled that opening, as the Redskins announced they’ve promoted defensive tackle Robert Thomas from their practice squad (Twitter link). An undrafted free agent out of Arkansas, Thomas had been on Washington’s taxi squad since the start of the season.
- Running back Lache Seastrunk has been removed from the Panthers‘ practice squad, with Carolina signing running back Tauren Poole to take his place, according to the club (Twitter link).
- The Rams have made a small adjustment to their practice squad as well, re-adding wideout Justin Veltung to replace tight end Brad Smelley, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
- After spending the season to date on the reserve/non-football illness list, defensive end Mike Catapano has been moved to the Chiefs‘ injured reserve list, as Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes. It’s not clear what sort of ailment is plaguing Catapano, but the new designation indicates he won’t play for Kansas City this season.
Sunday/Monday Transactions: NFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions are noted below.
Additionally, as of 11:00am CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Dallas Cowboys:
- Signed to 53-man roster (officially announced): Korey Toomer, LB (via Ian Rapoport on Twitter)
- Claimed off waivers: Donald Hawkins, G (via Todd Archer on Twitter)
- Cut: John Wetzel, OT (via Archer on Twitter); Ahmad Dixon, S (via Charean Williams)
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Micah Pellerin, CB (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter); Ryan Williams, RB (via Archer on Twitter); Tim Benford, WR; Kenneth Boatright, DE; Ronald Patrick, C; Keith Smith, LB; Will Smith, LB.
New York Giants:
- Signed to practice squad (officially annoucned):Nick Becton, OT; Michael Cox, RB; Chandler Fenner, CB; Dan Fox, LB; Bennett Jackson, CB; Jordan Stanton, DE; Julian Talley, WR. The team has also added offensive lineman Mark Asper, reports Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (via Twitter), though the team has yet to officially announce the signing.
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Emmanuel Acho, LB; Josh Andrews, OL; Kevin Graf, OT; Wade Keliikipi, DT; Will Murphy, WR; Quron Pratt, WR; Ed Reynolds, S; Matthew Tucker, RB. The team has also signed wide receiver Teddy Williams, reports Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter), though the team has not officially announced the signing.
Washington Redskins:
- Claimed off waivers (officially announced): Duke Ihenacho, S
- Cut (officially announced): Akeem Davis, S
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Ted Bolser, TE; Richard Crawford, CB; Chase Minnifield, CB; Tevita Stevens, OL; Phillip Thomas, S ; Robert Thomas, DT; Chris Thompson, RB; Nick Williams, WR
Redskins Waive Five Players
The Redskins have yet to officially announce any of their roster moves today, but the team has started to make its cuts in advance of the 53-man roster deadline, which is about 24 hours away. Here are the players cut so far by Washington:
- Ted Bolser (TE) (via John Keim on Twitter, 3:10pm)
- Richard Crawford (CB) (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter)
- Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith (S) (via Mike Jones on Twitter)
- Lee Doss (WR) (via team on Twitter, 5:17pm)
- Kevin Kowalski (OL) (via Chris Russell on Twitter, 3:37pm)
- Robert Malone (P) (via team on Twitter, 5:17pm)
- Tevita Stevens (OL) (via Keim on Twitter)
- Robert Thomas (DT) (via team on Twitter, 5:17pm)
Redskins Sign Four More Free Agents
SATURDAY, 6:09pm: The team announced the signings of four free agents today:
- Frank Kearse, DE, Alabama A&M
- Courtney Bridget, CB, Hampton
- Ross Madison, S, Toledo
- Blake Sailors, CB, Georgia
Kearse was a seventh-round pick by the Dolphins in 2011, and most recently spent time with the Panthers in 2013. The latter three players attended rookie minicamp practices on a tryout basis.
In corresponding moves, the team also announced the release of four players: Rees, Davenport, Perry and FS Jose Gumbs.
THURSDAY, 11:03am: Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees rounds out the Redskins’ list of undrafted free agent signings, according to the team.
WEDNESDAY, 4:10pm: Coming into today, the Redskins were one of just three teams that had yet to formally announce their class of rookie free agents. The league has remedied that, officially revealing that Washington has added nine UDFAs to the roster. Courtesy of Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (all Twitter links), here’s the list:
- Chris Davenport, DT, Tulane
- Lee Doss, WR, Southern
- Kofi Hughes, WR, Indiana
- Cody Hoffman, WR, BYU ($7.5K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- Rashad Lawrence, WR, Northwestern
- Kevin Perry, TE, UTEP
- Silas Redd, RB, USC
- Bryan Shepherd, CB, North Dakota State
- Robert Thomas, DT, Arkansas
Washington Signs Nine To Reserve Deals
JANUARY 6TH: Washington also signed outside linebacker Austin Spitler to a futures deal, according to Zac Boyer of The Washington Times (on Twitter).
DECEMBER 29TH: Washington has signed eight players to reserve/futures contracts, the team announced today (via Twitter). The following eight players have been locked up by the club, moving from the practice squad to Washington’s offseason roster:
- Isaako Aaitui, DT
- Edawn Coughman, T
- Chase Dixon, TE
- Je’Ron Hamm, TE
- Colin Lockett, WR
- Rashad Ross, WR
- Robert Thomas, DT
- Trey Wolfe, CB
Of the players who finished the season on Washington’s practice squad, only running back Michael Hill and center Tevita Stevens haven’t signed futures contracts with the team.
