Minor NFL Transactions: 8/5/23
Saturday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from PUP list: G Chandler Zavala
Chicago Bears
- Waived (injury designation): TE Chase Allen
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Gavin Heslop, T Derrick Kelly
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DT Forrest Merrill
- Waived (injury designation): OL Yasir Durant
Detroit Lions
- Waived: DL Zach Morton
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Nick Eubanks, TE Michael Jacobson
- Placed on IR: WR Ethan Fernea, OL Jake Witt
- Waived: RB Toriano Clinton
Los Angeles Rams
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from PUP list: OLB Andre Carter II
New Orleans Saints
Signed: WR Jontre Kirklin
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Nick Vigil, LB Samuel Eguavoen
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Daelin Hayes
- Placed on IR: DE Darryl Johnson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB Jace Whittaker
The Browns waived receiver Daylen Baldwin yesterday, and more details on his situation have emerged today courtesy of NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). Baldwin tore a tendon behind his knee, and he will undergo surgery as a result. After his recovery (which is expected to take roughly six to eight weeks), Pelissero notes that a return is the Browns’ preference.
Vigil will add considerable experience to the middle of the Jets’ defense. The 29-year-old has started 53 of his 89 career games, though he has not operated as a full-time starter in recent years as he once did. Vigil spent the 2022 season in Arizona, where he was limited to only eight games played and logged a defensive snap share of 35%. Both Vigil and Eguavoen worked out with the Giants last month, but they will instead head to New York’s other franchise for the 2023 season.
Kirklin played four games with the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks, and he scored four touchdowns in the process. He will look to carry over that production at the NFL level as part of a Saints receiving corps which has plenty of uncertainty amongst its depth options.
Whittaker spent the past three seasons in Arizona, coming on and off the Cardinals’ practice squad a number of times. He was a key member of the team’s secondary last year, however, starting four of his six games played and logging a snap share of 74%. The 28-year-old will compete for a depth role behind the established starters at the CB spot in Washington.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/23
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DL Nick Thurman
- Waived: LB Arron Mosby
- Waived/failed physical: DL John Penisini
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DT Donovan Jeter
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Nick Williams
Detroit Lions
- Waived/injured: TE Shane Zylstra
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Andre Miller, OL Cole Schneider
- Waived: OL Chuck Filiaga, TE Camren McDonald
Houston Texans
- Signed: K Jake Bates
- Placed on IR: FB Troy Hairston
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Toriano Clinton, TE La’Michael Pettway, T Dan Skipper
- Waived: T Jordan Murray, TE Kaden Smith, DT Jamal Woods
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Darius Harris
- Waived: LB Kana’i Mauga, T Justin Murray
New England Patriots
- Claimed (from Bears): WR Thyrick Pitts
- Placed on reserve/retired list: WR Jalen Hurd
New York Giants
- Signed: C Sean Harlow
- Placed on IR: C J.C. Hassenauer
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Greg Bell, RB John Lovett
- Waived: RB Jason Huntley
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Robert Cooper, OL Liam Ryan
- Waived: DL Roderick Perry
Chosen in the third round by the 49ers back in 2019, Hurd never ended up seeing regular-season action. A converted running back who played in front of Alvin Kamara at points while at Tennessee, Hurd transferred to Baylor and became a wide receiver. Two season-ending injuries — a back malady in 2019 and an ACL tear in 2020 — derailed Hurd’s 49ers tenure. The team cut him during the 2021 season. Barely a week after the Patriots signed Hurd, it appears he is throwing in the towel on an injury-plagued career.
Penisini had unretired this offseason, joining the Panthers. The former Lions sixth-rounder played two seasons on his rookie contract but called it quits in June 2022. His unretirement will precede a Panthers exit. The Lions are moving Zylstra off their 90-man roster due to a severe knee injury. If unclaimed, Zylstra would revert to Detroit’s IR list. Zylstra has seen action in 17 games for the Lions over the past two seasons.
Hassenauer will require surgery to repair a triceps injury, and this transaction will shut him down — as far as the Giants are concerned. The only way Hassenauer can play in 2023 would be if the Giants removed him from IR via an injury settlement. Hairston suffered a herniated disk during practice, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).