Ronnie Harrison

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/24

Saturday’s minor transactions and gameday practice squad callups:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Patrick was among the Broncos’ final roster cuts after a Saints trade was discussed. The 30-year-old missed the 2022 and ’23 campaigns due to ACL and Achilles tears, respectively. Patrick did not need to wait long to find a new opportunity, though, quickly landing a practice squad deal with the Lions. He is now positioned make his season debut tomorrow as a complementary option in Detroit’s passing attack.

Olszewski is dealing with a groin injury and he was known to be facing a long-term absence. Today’s move thus comes as no surprise, but it ensures at least a four-week absence. The former All-Pro scored a punt return touchdown with Pittsburgh early last season and added another during his 10-game Giants stretch to close out the year. The team will need to rely on other options in the return game for the time being.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/11/24

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: WR Kaden Davis

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

  • Signed: LB Jackson Sirmon

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Colts Release S Ronnie Harrison

As early roster cuts continue around the league, Ronnie Harrison is among the players being let to by the Colts. The veteran safety was released on Sunday, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: Recapping Colts’ Offseason]

Harrison spent the 2023 campaign with Indianapolis, making seven appearances and three starts. The 27-year-old notched a pair of interceptions while logging a 51% snap share on defense. He was also a contributor on special teams, something which helped him land a new Colts deal in March.

That pact was for the veteran’s minimum and did not include any guaranteed money. As a result, this move will not create any dead cap charges for the Colts as they move forward with questions looming in the secondary. Julian Blackmon – who re-signed in Indianapolis after a lengthy free agent spell – is a lock for one starting role on the backend. Who joins him as the other safety remains to be seen, and Harrison had seen time with the first-team defense during training camp.

Others in that regard included Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas, and attention will now turn to their respective places in the safety pecking order. The former entered the league with high expectations as a third-rounder in 2022, but he has only made four starts to date. The latter, by contrast, has started 25 contests over his two seasons in the league. Thomas logged a defensive snap share of 82% in 2023, and even if Harrison is brought back via the practice squad he is likely to once again play a large role this year.

Harrison is a vested veteran, so he will not need to clear waivers upon being let go. The former Jaguar and Brown will therefore be able to sign with any interested team immediately; failing that, he could re-join the Colts via their taxi squad later this week. The team did not show interest in Justin Simmons, and an outside safety addition is not expected at this point. With or without Harrison in the fold, the Blackmon-Thomas-Cross trio will be used heavily in 2024.

DB Notes: Lassiter, Texans, Colts, Simmons, Davis, Lions, Chiefs, Dolphins, Hawks, Jags

The Texans showed interest in re-signing Steven Nelson this offseason, but the two-year Houston starter ended up retiring. Houston has identified another clear candidate to start opposite Derek Stingley. The defending AFC South champions are prepared to roll with second-rounder Kamari Lassiter as their No. 2 cornerback. Not much drama exists here, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicating Lassiter has worked with Houston’s first-team defense since the offseason program. Although Lassiter sustained an ankle injury earlier during training camp, the No. 42 overall pick reclaimed his starter post — ahead of former first-rounders Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson — and will be expected to work in tandem with Stingley.

For a young guy to come in and not be noticed a lot for doing something negative, everything has been positive with Kamari,” Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s exactly the guy we saw from the Georgia film.”

Here is the latest from several other DB situations:

  • The Chiefs still need to decide on a No. 2 corner opposite Trent McDuffie. Long known for moving on from corners after one contract (as they most recently did with L’Jarius Sneed), the Chiefs have a few options — most acquired in 2022. Fourth- and seventh-round picks from that draft Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson, who played extensively last year, lead the way. No one has seized the job, per The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, who has 2022 seventh-rounder Nazeeh Johnson, rookie sixth-rounder Kamal Hadden and former Cowboys second-rounder Kelvin Joseph making the team as well (subscription required). Versatile performer Chamarri Conner, a 2023 fourth-rounder, will be in the mix at corner, but Andy Reid said (via Taylor) this could be a rotation into the season.
  • Justin Simmons accepted a one-year, $7.5MM Falcons deal. That price being so far beyond what other veteran safeties commanded confirms a decent market formed for the perennial All-Pro. The Colts‘ questions in the secondary did not lead them into this chase, however, with the Indianapolis Star’s Nate Atkins indicating the team did not make the ex-Bronco an offer. Former third-rounder Nick Cross, recently re-signed veteran Ronnie Harrison and third-year performer Rodney Thomas have rotated in alongside Julian Blackmon in camp. Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds said no safety moves are anticipated.
  • Seeing his three-year contract traded from the Buccaneers to the Lions, Carlton Davis remains scheduled to be a 2025 free agent. Davis will be 27 for most of this season, which should give him a decent market — should no Detroit extension be reached in the meantime — come March. A new agency will be representing the former second-rounder for his next negotiation. Davis is joining Athletes First, per a recent announcement.
  • Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller will start on the boundary for the Dolphins, with former UDFA success story Kader Kohou in place as Miami’s slot defender. Despite Cam Smith being a second-round pick, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson notes Ethan Bonner — a 2023 UDFA who has stood out in training camp — is the frontrunner to be Miami’s top backup CB. Bonner, who recently returned from a concussion sustained in camp, played only 11 defensive snaps last season. While Smith recently came back after missing nearly three weeks due to injury, ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques adds he is week-to-week after sustaining another injury against the Commanders. Despite playing 15 games last season, Smith only saw 20 defensive snaps.
  • The base value on Julian Love‘s second Seahawks contract checks in at $33MM, per OverTheCap. The three-year deal includes $11.97MM guaranteed at signing and dropped Love’s cap number by just more than $1.6MM. Option bonuses (worth a combined $4.8MM) are in place to keep the cap hits lower, with both Love’s 2024 and ’25 cap figures coming in at just over $6MM. Love’s 2025 base salary ($1.2MM) is guaranteed for injury and will shift to a full guarantee five days after Super Bowl LIX, ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson tweets.
  • The JaguarsTashaun Gipson reunion pact is worth $2.55MM, Wilson tweets. It comes with $525K guaranteed. The Jags will still be shorthanded at safety for a while. In addition to Gipson’s six-week suspension, Doug Pederson said (via ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco) Andrew Wingard‘s recent knee injury will sideline him for at least a few games.

Colts Retain Ronnie Harrison, Genard Avery

The Colts have kept a number of familiar faces home this offseason by re-signing the likes of Grover Stewart, Kenny Moore, Tyquan Lewis, and Rigoberto Sanchez. Add two more names to that list as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that defensive end Genard Avery and linebacker Ronnie Harrison have each signed one-year deals to return to Indianapolis in 2024.

Avery was set to be a potential contributor to the defensive front last year just two years removed from a strong season with the Eagles in which he started 12 games and set a career high in total tackles with 43. The Memphis product struggled to make the Buccaneers roster the following year and spent the beginning of the season on their practice squad. He got about two months on the active roster before being placed on injured reserve with an abdomen injury.

He signed with the Colts to add some pass-rushing depth last summer on a one-year deal, but Avery ended up needing season-ending knee surgery before the season even began. The LCL/meniscus issue that sidelined him for his entire 2023 campaign seems to be progressing well enough that Indianapolis has opted in for another year.

The team has also extended a second one-year contract to Harrison, who spent most of last year on the team’s practice squad, a first for the Alabama-product. Over his first five seasons in the NFL, Harrison mostly served as a starter for the Jaguars and Browns in bit of a hybrid linebacker and safety role, typically spending more time at safety or in the slot than in the box. Over that period, Harrison started 45 games in 67 appearances. He has had some trouble with injury, as well, though, missing 15 games over that stretch.

Harrison wasn’t promoted to the active roster this year until late-November, in time for a Week 11 matchup with the Buccaneers. He stayed on the active roster for the rest of season, starting three of seven game appearances, playing more linebacker than safety for the first time in his career, while still splitting snaps between the two. Harrison found ways to be productive despite the limited time, nabbing two interceptions (one a pick-six), two passes defensed, a sack, a tackle for a loss, and a quarterback hit.

Both players will once again attempt to work their way into the lineup in 2024. With Julian Blackmon hitting free agency, the team may attempt to bump Harrison back into a starting strong safety role. Avery, on the other hand, will hope to finally get an opportunity to contribute to the Colts in the regular season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/23

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Harrison was among the Colts’ final roster cuts in August, but he was immediately retained via the practice squad. Despite that move, the 26-year-old has yet to make an appearance in Indianapolis as a gameday elevation. He will now have the chance to make his Colts debut, having taken the 53-man roster spot of Shaquille Leonard after the latter’s surprise cut.

Muse will be required to miss at least the next four weeks as a result of the IR move. The former Seahawk has played exclusively on special teams to date during his first season with the Chargers, logging a 73% snap share in that capacity. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports Muse could still play later this season, something which will give Los Angeles a boost in the third phase if they are still in playoff contention down the stretch.

Ahmed’s foot injury, coupled with a new round of uncertainty regarding the healthy of rookie sensation De’Von Achane, could leave Miami shorthanded in the backfield. While it remains to be seen if the latter will miss time after coming back from an IR stint, the former will not be available moving forward. Ahmed is out for the season, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. The 24-year-old scored two total touchdowns on 38 touches this year, his fourth with the Dolphins. He is set to hit free agency this offseason, but the injury will no doubt hurt his market.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South

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 ColtsJaguarsTexans and Titans moves are noted below.

Houston Texans

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Indianapolis Colts

Placed on IR:

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad: 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Tennessee Titans

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Released:

Released from IR via injury settlement:

Colts To Add S Ronnie Harrison, DE Al-Quadin Muhammad To Practice Squad

Two of the veterans the Colts released Tuesday remain in the team’s plans. Ronnie Harrison and Al-Quadin Muhammad are staying with the team on practice squad agreements, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Each a vested veteran who avoided a crowded waiver wire, Harrison and Muhammad could be back on Indianapolis’ active roster soon. These agreements may represent preludes for the safety and defensive end, respectively, to rejoin Gus Bradley’s defense.

Teams can roster up to six vested vets on their 16-man P-squads, but since the league expanded its taxi squads in 2020, they have served as frequent way stations for veterans. Harrison would make sense as a ramp-up player, having only signed with the Colts in mid-August. A former Colts starting defensive end, Muhammad rejoined the team during the offseason.

Muhammad, 28, registered six sacks as a Colts starter in 2021. The team used first- and second-round picks on defensive ends that year — Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo — and needed veteran support after not re-signing Justin Houston. Muhammad parlayed that performance into a Bears agreement, rejoining Matt Eberflus. Chicago cut bait on that contract this offseason, however. Muhammad made nine starts with the Bears last year but totaled just one sack in 16 games.

Using three-safety sets frequently, the Browns deployed Harrison often. The five-year veteran made 23 starts in Cleveland, coming to Ohio after a 22-start run in Jacksonville. The Browns added Rodney McLeod this offseason, bringing over a 2022 Colts starter. Indy has Julian Blackmon going into a contract year and has 2022 draftees Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas as options to succeed McLeod.

Colts Move Roster To 53

Some higher-profile Colts news has overshadowed their roster construction, but the Jonathan Taylor drama factors into Indianapolis’ roster construction. Here is how the team moved down to 53:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Placed on reserve/PUP:

Placed on reserve/suspended list:

While Funk could be a practice squad candidate, Indianapolis’ 53-man roster includes three running backs: Deon Jackson, Zack Moss and fifth-round rookie Evan Hull. Moss is rehabbing a broken arm and looms as a candidate for in-season IR. The Colts released late-summer pickup Kenyan Drake recently. The Taylor move sidelines the disgruntled All-Pro for the first four games.

Smith, Rodgers, Strachan and Winfree moving off the roster leaves only four receivers (Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and Isaiah McKenzie) on the active. It seems likely another will be added before Week 1. Even with Brown gone, Indy’s 53-man roster houses five tight ends. Jelani Woods, Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, fifth-round rookie Will Mallory and Drew Ogletree, a second-year sixth-rounder, comprise that group. This would seem to be a place the Colts would be willing to cut into, should they be awarded any players on waivers before Wednesday’s 11am CT deadline.

The Colts added Harrison this offseason, signing the former Browns safety after the Browns brought in 2022 Colts cog Rodney McLeod. It should be expected Harrison, who is going into his sixth season, lands somewhere soon. Teams can keep up to six vested veterans on their respective practice squads, leaving the door ajar for Harrison — who only signed with the Colts on Aug. 14 — to stay. The 26-year-old defender has 45 starts on his resume.

Colts Sign S Ronnie Harrison

5:07pm: Harrison has a deal in place with the Colts, according to the team. The sixth-year vet will return to the AFC South to help Indianapolis’ Blackmon-led safety corps.

8:56am: The Colts could be nearing a depth addition to their secondary. Veteran safety Ronnie Harrison is set to visit Indianapolis today, reports Jordan Schultz of the Score (Twitter link).

Harrison was a third-round pick of the Jaguars in 2018, but he only spent two seasons with the team. After playing 28 games (including 22 starts) in Jacksonville, he was dealt to Cleveland just before the 2020 campaign. That began a three-year Browns stint in which Harrison was a key contributor on the backend.

The 26-year-old started 23 contests in Cleveland, seeing the most playing time in 2021. Harrison logged a 75% snap share that season, and his play earned him a one-year re-up last April. That pact came in spite of the continued presence of Grant Delpit and John Johnson at the safety spot, and that pair ate into Harrison’s role. The latter saw a higher usage rate on special teams than defense in 2022.

Harrison has 223 tackles, five interceptions and 5.5 sacks to his name. With the exception of 2021 (where he surrendered six touchdowns as the nearest defender), the Alabama product has also generally posted strong coverage statistics. That would make him at least a solid rotational option for a Colts team which lost Rodney McLeod to the Browns in free agency.

Indianapolis has Julian Blackmon in place as a safety starter, and McLeod’s departure should open the door to 2022 third-rounder Nick Cross taking on a larger workload. Harrison would give the Colts a young trio at the position if his visit were to produce a deal, but his experience could help land him another short-team deal with the upside to be an effective addition for the team. Indianapolis currently has just over $19MM in cap space, so they could comfortably afford to take a flier on Harrison.