Texans Trim Roster To 53 Players
Warning: Hard Knocks spoilers ahead. The Texans finalized their initial regular season roster today, announcing several cuts and other transactions in order to get down from 75 players to 53. In addition to cutting defensive tackle Louis Nix, defensive tackle Brandon Deaderick, and wide receiver Damaris Johnson (as we heard yesterday), and placing quarterback Tom Savage on injured reserve (as we heard today), the club made the following moves, per a press release:
Waived:
- OLB Kourtnei Brown
- ILB Max Bullough
- S Kurtis Drummond
- T Matt Feiler
- C James Ferentz
- DE Tevita Finau
- RB Kenny Hilliard
- CB Charles James
- S Corey Moore
- WR EZ Nwachukwu
- DE Dan Pettinato
- T Joseph Treadwell
- WR Chandler Worthy
Released:
- DE Fili Moala
Waived/injured:
- OLB Lynden Trail
- OLB Tony Washington
Placed on injured reserve:
- G Chad Slade
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweeted earlier today that the Texans were exploring trade scenarios involving cornerbacks Jumal Rolle and Charles James. James showed up on the list above as having been cut, so it’s clear Houston didn’t find a trade partner there. For now, Rolle remains on the team’s roster.
Meanwhile, another’s team’s roster casualty, veteran quarterback Matt Cassel, could be an option for Houston, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Cassel and Texans head coach Bill O’Brien were in New England at the same time, and with Savage landing on IR, Houston is in the market for an insurance policy at quarterback behind Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett.
Texans Sign 10 To Futures Contracts
The Texans have locked up nine players to reserve/futures contracts for the 2015 season, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. Here are the players who inked new deals with the club:
- Kourtnei Brown, DE
- Jace Davis, WR
- Matt Feiler, T
- James Ferentz, C
- Charles James, CB
- Travis Labhart, WR
- Ben Malena, RB
- Uzoma Nwachukwu, WR
- Terrance Parks, S
Eight of the nine players signed by the Texans finished the season on the team’s practice squad. Labhart was the lone player who wasn’t on the taxi squad at season’s end, while two players who were a part of the unit – quarterback Ricky Stanzi and guard Alex Kupper – have yet to sign new deals.
Meanwhile, the Texans haven’t made an official announcement regarding his status, but agent David Canter tweeted that his client, defensive end Tevita Finau, has also signed a futures deal with the team, making it 10 overall signings for Houston.
Sunday/Monday Transactions: AFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC 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 AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills:
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Deon Broomfield, S (via Mike Rodak on Twitter); Jimmy Gaines, LB (via Rodak on Twitter); Caleb Holley, WR (via Rodak on Twitter); Ike Igbinosun, DE (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter); Bryan Johnson, DE (via Rodak on Twitter); Kenny Ladler, DB (via Rodak on Twitter); Jeff Tuel, QB (via Rodak on Twitter); D.J. Morrell, G and Lonnie Pryor, FB (via Rodak on Twitter)
Miami Dolphins:
- Claimed off waivers (officially announced): Brandian Ross, S (via Adam Beasley on Twitter); Sammy Seamster, CB (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter)
- Cut: Don Jones, S (via Beasley on Twitter); Damian Williams, WR (via Beasley on Twitter)
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Sam Brenner, C (via Wilson on Twitter); Jacob Maxwell, TE (via Dave Birkett on Twitter); Tommy Streeter, WR (via Armando Salguero on Twitter), Matt Hazel, WR; Tony Hills, OT; David Hinds, LB; Seth Lobato, QB, D’Aundre Reed, DE; Lowell Rose, CB; Garrison Smith, DT
New England Patriots:
- Traded: Ryan Mallett, QB (link)
- Claimed off waivers (officially announced): Bruce Gaston, DT; Kelcy Quarles, DT
- Cut (officially announced): Chris White, LB
- Signed to practice squad: McLeod Bethel-Thompson, QB (Adam Caplan on Twitter); Ja’Gared Davis, OLB (via Doug Kyed on Twitter); Jonas Gray, RB (via Mark Daniels on Twitter)
New York Jets:
- Claimed off waivers: Leon McFadden, CB (via Rand Getlin on Twitter)
- Cut: LeQuan Lewis, CB (via Manish Mehta on Twitter)
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Matt Simms, QB (via Seth Walder on Twitter), Daryl Richardson, RB; Chris Pantale, TE; Brent Qvale, OT; Tevita Finau, DL; Kerry Hyder, DL; Rontez Miles, S.
Jets Cut Stephen Hill, Eight Others
The Jets have already cut nine players this afternoon, and there are certainly some notable names in the group. According to the New York Post’s Brian Costello (via Twitter), former second-round pick Stephen Hill is on his way out. The 23-year-old has disappointed since entering the league in 2012, but there’s a good chance he’ll have an opportunity to catch on with another team.
The New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta also reports (via Twitter) that running back Daryl Richardson will be released. However, based on the new practice squad rules, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini thinks there’s a chance that Richardson could stick around (via Twitter).
Below is the full list of the team’s moves:
- Stephen Hill (WR)
- Daryl Richardson (RB)
- A.J. Edds (LB) (via Brian Costello on Twitter)
- Alex Green (RB) (via Seth Walder on Twitter)
- Johnny Patrick (CB) (via Costello on Twitter)
- Chris Pantale (TE) (via Mehta on Twitter)
- Zach Thompson (DE) (via Mehta on Twitter)
- Tajh Boyd (QB) (via Adam Caplan on Twitter)
- Tevita Finau (DL) (via Costello on Twitter)
Additionally, Costello tweets that linebacker Antwan Barnes will likely start the season on the physically unable to perform list.