Rudy Ford

Packers Eyeing Starting Role For S Rudy Ford?

The Packers are set at the top of their cornerback depth chart heading into 2023, but their situation at the safety position is different. A competition for a starting safety spot will take place through the summer, but an early contender is in place amongst the team’s in-house options.

“I like where our safety room is in terms of the competition right now,” Packers safeties coach Ryan Downard said, via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette“There’s an opening there, and there’s only one guy in the room who’s played a ton of snaps for us… So it’s full competition when we go on the practice field.”

The player Downard is referring to, of course, is Rudy Ford. The latter joined Green Bay after being released by the Jaguars on the final day of roster cuts in August, leading to tempered expectations in his new home. Ford had started only six games in his career at that point, and had also spent time in Arizona and Philadelphia before his one-year stint in Jacksonville.

The former sixth-rounder played a career-high 442 snaps on defense in 2022, though, making him a key member of Green Bay’s secondary. Ford notched three interceptions and 44 total stops while logging a 43% snap share, which could put him in line for a step forward in playing time this season. Wood notes that Ford is the “top internal candidate” to replace Adrian Amos as a safety starter. The latter remains unsigned, and while a reunion could still be on the table, he has drawn interest from the Ravens as well.

That could leave Green Bay to rely on Ford in a tandem with 2019 first-rounder Darnell Savage, whose play at safety in particular has drawn signficant criticism. Depth at slot corner will bring Savage back to the safety spot, making identifying Amos’ replacement a top priority for the Packers if they are to take a forward step on defense this year.

Wood lists free agent signings Tarvarius Moore and Jonathan Owens as the other top competitors for the spot. Each has considerable experience at the NFL level, but also a track record of heavy usage on special teams rather than defense for much of their careers. It is also in the third phase that most (if not all) of seventh-round rookie Anthony Johnson‘s playing time will come in 2023. Those factors should leave Ford in pole position for a first-team role, though much remains to be determined in the coming months.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/23

Here are today’s minor moves from around the league:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Washington Commanders

 

Board is a strong special teamer, signing a two-year, $5MM deal with New England, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The contract reportedly includes incentives that can push the deal to a maximum value of $6.7MM.

Colon-Castillo reportedly visited the Falcons today, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Despite the visit, he decided to sign with the Jets.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC North

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 BearsLions, Packers and Vikings moves are noted below.

Here are Wednesday’s NFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Chicago Bears

Claimed:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Detroit Lions

Claimed:

Waived:

Released from IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Green Bay Packers

Signed:

Waived: 

Signed to practice squad:

Minnesota Vikings

Waived:

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/22

Teams have until 3pm Tuesday to slash their rosters from 80 to 53 players. Here are the Monday moves teams are making en route to doing so. The list will be updated throughout the day.

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/21

Today’s “minor” moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Minnesota Vikings

Eagles Activate TE Dallas Goedert, WR Jalen Reagor, OL Jason Peters

The Eagles will welcome back a number of players for tomorrow’s matchup against the Cowboys. Geoff Mosher reports (via Twitter) that Philly will activate tight end Dallas Goedert. Meanwhile, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets that the team is also activating wideout Jalen Reagor, offensive lineman Jason Peters, linebacker T.J. Edwards, and safety Rudy Ford.

Considering the injuries that the Eagles are dealing with on offense, both Goedert and Reagor will be especially welcome additions. Following a 2019 campaign that saw him haul in 58 receptions for 607 yards and five scores, Goedert continued to produce through the first two-plus games of the 2020 season, hauling in 13 receptions for 138 yards and one score before succumbing to an ankle injury. The former second-rounder managed to put up that solid production playing behind Zach Ertz, but with the veteran currently sidelined, Goedert should have a clear path to snaps.

Reagor, the 21st pick in this past year’s draft, was relatively productive through his first two career games, hauling in five catches for 96 yards. He suffered a ligament tear in his thumb in late September, and he was subsequently placed on IR. He’ll join a receivers corps that’s currently led by former sixth-rounder Travis Fulgham.

Peters, 38, signed a one-year extension with the Eagles this past summer. He started each of Philly’s first three games before being sidelined with a toe injury. With offensive tackle Lane Johnson dealing with a knee injury, Peters could immediately slide back into the starting lineup.

Edwards, a 2019 undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin, appeared in all 16 games as a rookie. He compiled 15 tackles and one forced fumble in four starts this season before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4. Ford has served exclusively on special teams in three games for the Eagles this season.

Eagles Place S Rudy Ford On IR

Despite going into the season with a promising wide receiver depth chart, the Eagles have endured a forgettable season at this position. And they may be even thinner at the spot this week.

With both Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor questionable to face the Seahawks, the Eagles promoted wideout Greg Ward from their practice squad. To clear a roster spot, Philadelphia placed safety Rudy Ford on IR.

Ford is dealing with an abdominal injury but had played in each of the Eagles’ 10 games this season. The third-year defender came to Philadelphia earlier this year in a trade with Arizona. He played in 23 Cardinals games between the 2017 and ’18 seasons.

A former college quarterback who threw for more than 8,000 yards in four seasons at the University of Houston, Ward has bounced on and off the Eagles’ roster since being a 2017 UDFA. He made his NFL debut in the Eagles’ Week 3 game against the Lions and contributed mostly on special teams.

With Jeffery and Agholor iffy for Sunday, and DeSean Jackson on IR, the Eagles’ healthy receiver contingent consists of Ward, Mack Hollins, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and the recently re-signed Jordan Matthews.

Eagles, Cardinals Swap S Rudy Ford, DT Bruce Hector

The Eagles and Cardinals have agreed to a trade. Safety Rudy Ford, who was a sixth-round pick in 2017, will head to Philadelphia. Defensive tackle Bruce Hector will head to Arizona, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (Twitter link).

Hector came into the league in 2018 out of the University of South Florida. He was not selected in the 2018 draft but found his way onto the Eagles’ roster, appearing in eight games as a rookie and recording a half-sack. The big man was unlikely to make Philadelphia’s final roster this year.

Ford, who played college ball at Auburn, hasn’t carved out a major role on defense during his two seasons in the league. The 5’11” safety has top level speed and has played on Arizona’s special teams.

Cardinals Sign Three Draft Picks

The Cardinals announced that they’ve signed three 2017 draft picks: fifth-round offensive lineman Will Holden, fifth-round running back T.J. Logan, and seventh-round defensive back Rudy Ford.T.J. Logan (Vertical)

[RELATED: 2017 NFL Draft Pick Signings]

Holden, selected with the 157th overall pick, is now one of seven reserve offensive lineman on Arizona’s roster, so he could face an uphill battle to earn a spot on the squad despite his draft status. Logan, a North Carolina product, could see time as a kick returner during his rookie campaign and could even carve out a role on offense, as the Cards only have one other back — Kerwynn Williams — behind starter David Johnson. Arizona traded up in the seventh round to select Ford, whom the Cardinals are listing as a cornerback.

Arizona has now signed three of its seven-man draft class, and still needs to ink first-round linebacker Haason Reddick, second-round safety Budda Baker, third-round wide receiver Chad Williams, and fourth-round offensive lineman Dorian Johnson.