Chargers Trim Roster To 53
As final cuts continue to be announced, the Chargers have unveiled their list of departing players. Here is the final tally:
Released:
Waived:
- T Zack Bailey
- WR Michael Bandy
- WR Trevon Bradford
- DL Andrew Brown
- RB Leddie Brown
- LB Cole Christiansen
- OLB Jamal Davis II
- DB Ben DeLuca
- OLB Emeke Egbule
- DL Joe Gaziano
- CB Kemon Hall
- OL Ryan Hunter
- CB Michael Jacquet
- TE Hunter Kampmoyer
- OLB Carlo Kemp
- TE Erik Krommenho
- S Raheem Layne
- LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
- RB Kevin Marks Jr.
- WR Jason Moore Jr.
- FB Gabe Nabers
- WR Joe Reed
- T Foster Sarell
- CB Brandon Sebastian
- DB Mark Webb Jr.
Waived/injured:
- TE Sage Surratt
Covington represents by far the most experienced player being let go. He spent just one season in Los Angeles, starting three of his 16 appearances. While the 28-year-old Canadian set a new career-high in tackles with 52, he was part of the league’s third-worst run defense. That, coupled with Covington’s small roster bonus, made him a logical cut candidate.
The Chargers have a crowded backfield to work with, and one main training camp storyline has been the competition to establish the pecking order behind Austin Ekeler. By waiving Nabers, however, the team can keep one more back on the 53-man roster. Given their passing efficiency, eliminating the fullback position from the offense would allow them to keep the former UDFA on the practice squad (if at all); if not, Nabers will need to find one of the few remaining teams with a spot for his skillset.
Surratt carries the most upside amongst the TE departures. The converted WR didn’t play during his rookie season, but demonstrated his talent in college, including a 1,000-yerd season at Wake Forest. Given his absence from the 2020 college season, as well as the 2021 NFL campaign, though, keeping the six-foot-three, 215-pounder as a depth option behind Gerald Everett could better be done via the practice squad.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/11/22
A number of players continue to sign reserve/futures contracts, which allows organizations to retain (mostly) young, practice squad players throughout the offseason. We’ve compiled today’s reserve/futures contracts below:
Carolina Panthers
- DE Austin Larkin, OL Austen Pleasants
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Omar Bayless, TE Jordan Franks, WR Gary Jennings, RB Brenden Knox, FB Lorenzo Neal, WR/PR Matthew Sexton, DT Darius Stills
Los Angeles Chargers
- WR Michael Bandy, DL Andrew Brown, LB Cole Christiansen, DB Ben DeLuca, LB Emeke Egbule, WR Maurice Ffrench, G Ryan Hunter, TE Hunter Kampmoyer, DL Forrest Merrill, WR Jason Moore, OT Foster Sarell
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: C Drake Jackson
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
- QB Blake Bortles, C Cohl Cabral, DT Malcolm Roach, CB Bryce Thompson, WR Kevin White, TE Ethan Wolf
New York Giants
- WR Alex Bachman
Tennessee Titans
- LB Kobe Jones, DB Chris Williamson
Washington Football Team
- FB Alex Armah, RB Reggie Bonnafon
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 will be noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Denver Broncos
Signed:
- OT Cameron Fleming, DL Shamar Stephen
Waived:
Placed on IR:
- RB Mike Boone, CB Michael Ojemudia
Signed to practice squad:
- OT Quinn Bailey, TE Shaun Beyer, WR Tyrie Cleveland, RB Damarea Crockett, CB Nate Hairston, OT Drew Himmelman, WR Kendall Hinton, CB Mac McCain III, LB Curtis Robinson, QB Brett Rypien, OL Austin Schlottmann, DL Marquiss Spencer, LB Barrington Wade, WR Seth Williams
Kansas City Chiefs
Signed:
- WR Marcus Kemp
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list:
- S Tyrann Mathieu; Mathieu tested positive for COVID-19
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
Claimed:
- DL Eric Banks (from Rams), DB Trey Marshall (from Broncos)
Waived:
- CB Brandon Facyson, DL Forrest Merrill
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Michael Bandy, RB Darius Bradwell, LB Cole Christiansen, DB Ben DeLuca, OLB Emeke Egbule, DL Breiden Fehoko, DL Joe Gaziano, G Nate Gilliam, G Ryan Hunter, TE Hunter Kampmoyer, WR Jason Moore Jr., WR Joe Reed
Chargers Trim Roster To 53
The Chargers waived 16 players today, reducing their roster to 53 players. The team made the following transactions
Waived
- K Michael Badgley
- WR Michael Bandy
- RB Darius Bradwell
- CB John Brannon
- DL Cortez Broughton
- LB Cole Christiansen
- DB Ben DeLuca
- LB Emeke Egbule
- DL Breiden Fehoko
- LB Joe Gaziano
- OG Nate Gilliam
- OG Ryan Hunter
- WR Tyron Johnson
- TE Hunter Kampmoyer
- WR Jason Moore
- WR Joe Reed
It’s a bit surprising that the organization is moving on from Johnson considering his solid season in 2020. The 2019 undrafted free agent finished his second professional season with 23 touches for 415 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. The 25-year-old also got some run on special teams, including six kick returns.
Badgley was another notable cut, which we explored in depth earlier today.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/20
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: K Elliott Fry, S T.J. Green
- Released: P Cameron Nizialek
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Pete Guerriero
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Ryan Switzer
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Juwann Winfree
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: G Ryan Hunter
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Jordan Roos
- Released: WR Mason Kinsey
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/7/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted:G Ryan Hunter
- Placed on IR: S Juan Thornhill (story)
Chiefs To Sign Stefen Wisniewski, Terrell McClain
The Chiefs, who are dealing with injuries to their O-line, are signing veteran Stefen Wisniewski, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweets that the club is also adding a vet to their defensive front, Terrell McClain.
Wisniewski spent the last three years with the Eagles, who declined his 2019 option in March. He drew some interest on the open market, and Philly re-signed him in May, but he did not survive final cutdowns.
The 6’3″, 305-pound lineman offers experience at both guard and center and will, at the very least, provide veteran competence off the bench. He may also get a spot start here and there, and he has started at least six games per season since entering the league in 2011.
McClain, meanwhile, spent 2018 with the Falcons and appeared in 13 games. He hooked on with the Cardinals this offseason but, like Wisniewski, was cut at the end of August. He will likely become part of the Chiefs’ D-line rotation right away given that Chris Jones and Xavier Williams are both expected to miss time.
Both men have become NFL journeymen. The Chiefs will be McClain’s seventh team and Wisniewski’s fourth.
The Chiefs have also waived T Ryan Hunter.
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC West
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC West 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 for the Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. 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 AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Denver Broncos
Placed on injured reserve:
Re-signed:
Claimed:
- QB Kevin Hogan
Cut:
- QB Paxton Lynch
Practice squad:
- RB David Williams
- TE Brian Parker
- OL Austin Schlottmann
- OL Avery Gennesy
- WR River Cracraft
- WR Carlos Henderson*
- OLB Jeff Holland
- CB Brendan Langley
- DL DeShawn Williams
- DT Kyle Peko
- S Trey Marshall
Kansas City Chiefs
Claimed:
Placed on injured reserve:
Cut:
- QB Matt McGloin
Practice squad:
- WR Josh Crockett
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- T Ryan Hunter
- DT Dee Liner
- QB Chase Litton
- LB Rob McCray
- S Leon McQuay
- C Jimmy Murray
- DB Arrion Springs
- DB D’Montre Wade
Los Angeles Chargers
Claimed:
- LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
- DT T.Y. McGill
Cut:
- QB Cardale Jones
- LB Hayes Pullard
Practice squad:
- DE Patrick Afriyie
- WR Dylan Cantrell
- S A.J. Hendy
- LB D’Juan Hines
- WR Andre Patton
- DL Steven Richardson
- OL Trent Scott
Oakland Raiders
Claimed:
- OT T.J. Clemmings
- OT Justin Murray
Cut:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Marcell Ateman
- WR Saeed Blacknell
- TE Paul Butler
- LB Jason Cabinda
- S Dallin Leavitt
- DT Gabe Wright
- FB Ryan Yurachek
* = suspended
Chiefs Cut Down To Final 53
In addition to David Amerson, the Chiefs will release longtime depth cog Frank Zombo.
The outside linebacker’s been in Kansas City since the Andy Reid regime began in 2013. He started 11 games in 2016, when Justin Houston missed most of the season with knee trouble, but will not be part of the 2018 team. The Chiefs drafted Breeland Speaks in the second round and plan to use 2017 second-rounder Tanoh Kpassagnon more extensively than they did last season.
Here’s the full list of players who won’t be on Kansas City’s initial 53-man roster.
Released:
- CB David Amerson
- DT Stefan Charles
- RB Kerwynn Williams
- TE Tim Wright
- OLB Frank Zombo
Waived:
- TE Jace Amaro
- WR Daniel Braverman
- FB Algernon Brown
- WR Jehu Chesson
- G Ethan Cooper
- WR Josh Crockett
- LB Raymond Davison
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- CB Makinton Dorleant
- DB Step Durham
- LB Ukeme Eligwe
- LB Tyrone Holmes
- T Ryan Hunter
- RB Ray Lowry
- DT Dee Liner
- QB Chase Litton
- WR Blake Mack
- LB Rob McCray
- DT T.Y. McGill
- S Leon McQuay
- C Jimmy Murray
- LB Otha Peters
- DT Mike Purcell
- CB Keith Reaser
- CB Will Redmond
- WR Jordan Smallwood
- T Bentley Spain
- DB Arrion Springs
- S Jordan Sterns
- DB D’Montre Wade
Placed on IR:
Suspended:
Chiefs Sign 14 UDFAs
The Chiefs announced the signing of 14 undrafted free agents:
- LB Raymond Davison (California)
- OT Ryan Hunter (Bowling Green)
- DT Dee Liner (Arkansas State)
- QB Chase Litton (Marshall)
- TE Blake Mack (Arkansas State)
- WR Elijah Marks (Northern Arizona)
- RB J.D. Moore (LSU)
- C Jimmy Murray (Holy Cross)
- LB Ben Niemann (Iowa)
- WR Byron Pringle (Kansas State)
- OT Devondre Seymour (Southern Illinois)
- DB Arrion Springs (Oregon)
- DB D’Montre Wade (Murray State)
- RB Darrel Williams (LSU)
Williams ended up receiving one of the bigger deals among undrafted free agents, signing for $30K, including a $15K bonus and $15K base (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter). The running back had a breakout campaign at LSU in 2017, compiling 820 yards and nine touchdowns on 145 carries.
Among the prospects who attended smaller schools, Wade was considered one of the top cornerback prospects. Following a season where he collected six interceptions, the defensive back will be in the running for a roster spot. The same could be said of the 6-foot-3, 337-pound Liner, who adds some much-needed size to Kansas City’s defensive line.

