Shaun Draughn

49ers To Sign Shaun Draughn

The 49ers have agreed to terms with running back Shaun Draughn, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Draughn will be expected to provide SF with depth as it deals with multiple injuries in the backfield.

Draughn appeared in five games this season for Cleveland with two carries for 10 yards. Last month, however, the Browns cut him loose in favor of linebacker Jayson DiManche. The 27-year-old has been on six other NFL teams since entering the league in 2011. On Sunday, the 49ers lost Reggie Bush and Mike Davis to injuries and both players could be done for the year. Carlos Hyde, meanwhile, did not play due to a stress fracture. It’s possible that Draughn will be playing a key role for the 49ers, even if it’s only in the short term.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/20/15

Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves..

Earlier today:

  • The Browns are signing linebacker Jayson DiManche off the Chiefs‘ taxi squad, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. DiManche will take the roster spot previously filled by running back Shaun Draughn, who has been waived, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal writes. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound DiManche has appeared in 28 regular-season games with one start, all with the Bengals. Draughn appeared in five games this season for Cleveland with two carries for 10 yards.
  • The Falcons signed linebacker Philip Wheeler and released safety Charles Godfrey, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Lions have claimed guard/tackle Michael Ola off waivers from the Chargers, as Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. Ola has yo-yo’d between the Chargers’ 53-man roster and the taxi squad all season long.
  • The Colts promoted safety Dewey McDonald from the practice squad, as Stephen Holder of the Indy Star tweets. The Colts also cut Amarlo Herrera and cornerback Shaun Prater, Wilson tweets.
  • The Seahawks signed Lemuel Jeanpierre and cut Crezdon Butler, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets.
  • The Seahawks also placed linebacker Brock Coyle on IR-DTR, Gregg Bell of The News Tribune tweets.
  • The Chargers will sign safety Adrian Phillips from the practice squad as early as today, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
  • The Raiders re-signed strong safety Taylor Mays, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • The Saints have signed wide receiver T.J. Graham, according to a source who spoke with Wilson (Twitter link).
  • The Vikings signed Kenrick Ellis and placed Shamar Stephen on IR, Wilson tweets.
  • The Jaguars moved wide receiver Neal Sterling to the active roster and signed safety Craig Loston, John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/12/15

Latest minor moves:

  • The Eagles released wideout Jeff Maehl with an injury settlement, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).
  • As mentioned below, the Saints placed LB Davis Tull on IR on Saturday. The reason is now known: Tull has a left shoulder tear. It’s unrelated to earlier labrum surgery he had on his right shoulder. (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com).

Earlier:

  • In opening a spot for Bates, Washington cut defensive end Frank Kearse, per Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (via Twitter). Kearse, the fifth defensive end on Washington’s depth chart, has played in 29 career games and started eight since entering the league in 2011 as a seventh-round pick of the Dolphins. He’s accrued 4.5 career sacks. Boyer notes (on Twitter) Kearse dealt with a shoulder injury since training camp. He played 15 games for Washington last year.
  • To make room for Seantavius Jones, Opurum and defensive back Don Jones, who joins his practice squad teammates in receiving weekend promotions to the active roster, the Saints cut Tim Hightower and guard Mike McGlynn, and placed rookie linebacker Davis Tull on injured reserve, Evan Woodberry of NOLA.com reports. McGlynn, dubbed the worst guard in football in two of the past three seasons as a member of the Colts and Chiefs, was not going to be active Sunday, and New Orleans needs special teams contributors, reports Woodberry (on Twitter). Hightower was serving as the Saints’ third-string running back in C.J. Spiller‘s absence.
  • In bringing LeGarrette Blount back to the 53-man roster after his one-game suspension, the Patriots waived linebacker Eric Martin, per Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Martin played on special teams for New England in its season-opening win over Pittsburgh.
  • New Orleans added a second player from its practice squad to the active roster in promoting fullback Toben Opurum, according to Woodberry. The Saints, notes Woodberry (on Twitter), are stockpiling special-teamers, with five of their own talents out due to injuries.
  • The Saints are promoting wideout Seantavius Jones to the active roster, reports Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com. Terrell notes Jones will likely play as the team’s fifth receiver with a special teams role. A corresponding roster move hasn’t been announced.
  • Washington will promote outside linebacker Houston Bates off its practice squad for Week 1 due to the team having concerns about Jackson Jeffcoat‘s thigh ailment, according to Boyer (on Twitter). Boyer looks to serve as the backup to Trent Murphy on the right side after being one of the team’s last cuts this preseason, joining Washington as an undrafted free agent from Louisiana Tech.
  • The Browns are promoting Shaun Draughn to their active roster from their practice squad, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). The 27-year-old Draughn played 16 games for the Chiefs in 2012, rushing for 233 yards. He’ll sit behind Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson and Robert Turbin on the depth chart.
  • The Texans agreed to injury settlements with outside backers Lynden Trail and Tony Washington to take them off injured reserve, Wilson reports. Both undrafted rookies, Trail’s preseason ended after a quadriceps injury, with Washington’s concluding after a chest malady in the team’s preseason finale.

Colts Acquire Billy Winn, Cut Boom Herron

3:30pm: It’s a seventh-round pick headed from the Colts to the Browns in the deal, tweets Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com.

3:15pm: The Colts have made multiple changes to their roster, announcing today in a press release that they’ve acquired defensive lineman Billy Winn from the Browns in exchange for a conditional late-round 2017 pick. In order to clear room on the roster for Winn, Indianapolis has waived guard Robert Myers.

Additionally, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Colts have reached an injury settlement with running back Boom Herron, who was waived/injured during the club’s cutdown to 53 players. The move means that Herron will pass through waivers again, and if he goes unclaimed, he’ll become a free agent, able to sign with any team.

Herron, who suffered a sprained AC joint in the Colts’ final preseason game, isn’t expected to be shelved for a significant amount of time due to the injury, so he could be claimed on waivers, like Robert Turbin was yesterday. However, I’d be a little surprised if a club wanted to carry Herron on its 53-man roster quite yet.

As for Winn, he has played 40 games for the Browns since entering the league as a sixth-round pick in 2012, earning 18 starts during that span. He’ll provide depth on the Colts’ defensive line, but likely won’t take on a significant role unless Indianapolis has injury problems up front.

For the Browns, trading Winn opens up a roster spot for the team to promote Shaun Draughn from the practice squad. Cleveland hasn’t made that move official yet, but with Turbin out and Duke Johnson recovering from a concussion, Draughn figures to join the team’s backfield for at least Week 1 to complement Isaiah Crowell.

Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC North

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC North 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 Ravens, Bengals, Browns, and Steelers are noted below.

Additionally, as of 11:00am 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 AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

(press release)

  • Removed from IR list:
    • WR Onterio McCalebb
  • Signed to practice squad:
    • T Dan France
    • CB Troy Hill
    • G Trey Hopkins
    • WR Jake Kumerow
    • TE Matt Lengel
    • LB Trevor Roach
    • RB Terrell Watson
    • QB Keith Wenning
    • RB James Wilder Jr.
    • DT DeShawn Williams

Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers

(press release)

  • Signed:
    • RB Jordan Todman
  • Claimed off waivers:
    • DT Caushaud Lyons
  • Cut:
    • LB Anthony Chickillo
    • CB Doran Grant
  • Signed to practice squad:
    • RB Dominique Brown
    • DB Jordan Dangerfield
    • OL Reese Dismukes
    • LB L.J. Fort
    • LB Shayon Green
    • DE Ethan Hemer
    • OL Antonio Johnson
    • WR Shakim Phillips
    • TE Harold Spears
    • WR Jarrod West
    • OL Matt Feiler (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson)

Browns Keep West, Pryor On 53-Man Roster

The Browns have announced their roster moves for the day, and two offensive players who were viewed as potential release – or trade – candidates have made the cut — running back Terrance West and quarterback-turned-wide-receiver Terrelle Pryor are still members of the Browns.

Cleveland has also confirmed that quarterbacks Thad Lewis and Pat Devlin have been cut, meaning Johnny Manziel looks poised to enter the year healthy enough to be Josh McCown‘s backup.

Here’s the Browns’ full list of moves, via a team release:

Waived:

  • OL Karim Barton
  • RB Shaun Draughn
  • DB Landon Feichter
  • RB Tim Flanders
  • DB Kendall James
  • WR Darius Jennings
  • OL Erle Ladson
  • WR Josh Lenz
  • WR Vince Mayle
  • DL Jacobbi McDaniel
  • OL Andrew McDonald
  • OL Darrian Miller
  • DB Robert Nelson
  • OL Vinston Painter
  • LB Hayes Pullard III
  • DB Joe Rankin
  • LB Mike Reilly
  • DB De’Ante Saunders
  • DL Dylan Wynn

Released:

  • OL Eric Olsen

Minor Moves: Friday

Exclusive rights free agent Ryan Davis signed a deal with the Jaguars today, according to the team’s Twitter account. The defensive end signed with the Jaguars in May 2012 after going undrafted. He played in one game as a rookie and seven games in 2013 before sticking on the roster last year for 16 games and recording 6.5 sacks. Today’s minor moves..

  • Quarterback Tajh Boyd has agreed to terms with the Steelers on a one-year deal, multiple league sources tell Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The Clemson product was drafted by the Jets in the sixth round of the 2014 draft.
  • The Broncos officially announced that they have tendered offers to three exclusive rights free agents: linebacker Brandon Marshall, tackle Paul Cornick, and guard Ben Garland, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • The Browns announced they re-signed exclusive rights free agents running back Shaun Draughn and punter Spencer Lanning, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (via Twitter).
  • The Jaguars declined to tender offers to their five restricted free agents, Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union writes. Fullback Will Ta’ufo’ou, cornerback Teddy Williams, tailback/kick returner Jordan Todman, guard Jacques McClendon, and tight end Fendi Onobun will now become unrestricted free agents.
  • The Lions gave defensive end George Johnson an original-round tender and wide receiver Jeremy Ross an exclusive rights tender, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com writes.
  • The Chiefs have tendered ERFA Junior Hemingway, according to a source that spoke with Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). Hemingway, 26, is a fourth-year pro who caught 12 passes for 108 yards in 14 games as a backup last season.
  • The 49ers have tendered exclusive-rights free agents Michael Wilhoite and Tony Jerod-Eddie, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweets.
  • As expected, the Cardinals declined to tender either one of their restricted free agents, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic tweets. Both quarterback Ryan Lindley and nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu will hit the open market.

Browns Sign Shaun Draughn, Place Miles Austin On IR

10:34am: The Browns have officially confirmed the addition of Draughn, announcing that wideout Miles Austin has been placed on injured reserve to accommodate the signing (Twitter link). Austin sustained a kidney injury during the team’s Week 13 game in Buffalo.

10:29am: As we wait for word on which quarterback will start for the Browns against the Colts this weekend, there’s some more minor news out of Cleveland to pass along. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Browns have signed running back Shaun Draughn to a one-year contract.

Draughn, who turns 27 on Sunday, played for the Chargers earlier this season when San Diego’s backfield was hit hard by injuries, earning 10 carries in an October game against the Jets. However, Draughn wasn’t particularly effective in his limited action, rushing for just 19 yards on those 10 attempts, and was cut by the team about a month ago. The former Chief and Raven has accumulated 73 career carries for 254 yards and two TDs, as well as 24 receptions for 158 yards.

The Browns cut one veteran running back last month, parting ways with offseason signee Ben Tate and opening the door for rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West to carry the load in Cleveland. However, neither player had a good game on Sunday in Buffalo, with Crowell totaling just 29 yards on 17 carries, while West lost a key fumble in the second half that was returned for a touchdown. Draughn is unlikely to push for a featured role in Cleveland, but his presence could help provide some stability in a backfield that features multiple rookies, including third-string back Glenn Winston.

The Browns have a full 53-man roster, so for Draughn’s signing to become official, the team will have to make a corresponding move.

Minor Moves: Saturday

Here are today’s minor transactions, with the most recent updates added to the top of the list…

  • Wideout Bryan Walters has been cut by the Seahawks, who have promoted practice squad safety Terrance Parks to take his place on the roster, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. As Condotta observes (Twitter links), the move adds depth at safety with a couple players ailing, and leaves Seattle with five active receivers.
  • The Lions have released safety Jerome Couplin and tight end Jordan Thompson, reports Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter). One of those roster spots would likely go to Kyle Van Noy who is set to return to action next week. The other could go to a defensive tackle, with Nick Fairley set to miss this Sunday’s game.
  • The Chargers have released running back Shaun Draughn, reports Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego (via Twitter). The team signed safety Adrian Phillips into that roster spot.

Earlier updates:

  • The 49ers have promoted cornerback Leon McFadden to their active roster, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter).
  • The Cardinals have promoted running back Kerwynn Williams to the active roster, reports Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. To make room on the roster, the team parted ways with defensive tackle Bruce Gaston. Urban notes that Gaston could return to the team next week.
  • The Jets have promoted quarterback Matt Simms and cut wideout Chris Owusu, tweets Aaron Wilson. Simms, the son of former Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms, is likely insurance for the Jets in case Geno Smith is unable to suit up.
  • The Chiefs have promoted safety Daniel Sorensen from their practice squad, tweets Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star. To make room on the roster, the team released defensive lineman Damion Square.
  • Washington will release defensive end Clifton Geathers and will activate former fourth round pick Phillip Thomas to the active roster, reports ESPN 980 Radio (confirmed by ESPN’s John Keim). Geathers has been with seven different squads since entering the league in 2010. He signed with Washington this past offseason. Thomas still hasn’t made an NFL appearance since being selected by Washington in last year’s draft.

Chargers Sign Shaun Draughn, Kevin Reddick

The Chargers announced that they have signed running back Shaun Draughn and inside linebacker Kevin Reddick to their 53-man roster, tweets Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego.

San Diego coach Mike McCoy made no secret of the fact that the club would look to sign a running back in the wake of Danny Woodhead‘s season-ending injury. In Draughn, the Chargers have added a veteran running back with four seasons of NFL experience. The 26-year-old (27 in December) enjoyed his best season with the Chiefs in 2012, rushing for 233 yards off of 59 carries with 24 catches for 158 yards. Draughn also found paydirt twice in 2012 – his only NFL touchdowns.

It was a quick turnaround for Reddick, who was dropped from the Rams’ practice squad just last week. The 24-year-old, who was in camp with the Saints over the offseason and had a tryout for the Pats, appeared in all 16 of New Orleans’ game last season. Working primarily on special teams, Reddick had 13 tackles and one forced fumble. Kavell Conner is expected to have an increased role on defense in the wake of Manti Te’o‘s foot injury, so Reddick will presumably help fill the gap on special teams.

To make room on the roster, the Bolts have released defensive end Lawrence Guy, tweets Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego.