Broncos Worked Out WR Travis Rudolph
The Broncos’ WR corps represents one of the club’s biggest question marks in 2019. The unit is fronted by Emmanuel Sanders, but Sanders is 32 and is coming off a torn Achilles. Denver hopes that second-year players Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton will continue to progress, and former UDFA Tim Patrick flashed at the end of last season, but it may be asking a bit much for all three players to consistently perform at a high level in 2019.
To that end, the Broncos continue to be on the lookout for WR depth, and they signed rookie wideout Jamarius Way yesterday. Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post expects sixth-round rookie Juwann Winfree and UDFA Trinity Benson to make the club, and Benson has been playing particularly well, even earning some playing time with the first-stringers.
As Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic tweets, before the Broncos signed Way, they also worked out Travis Rudolph. Rudolph, a Florida State product, signed with the Giants after going undrafted in 2017, and he saw action in seven games (one start) for Big Blue that year. He posted eight catches for 101 yards.
New York waived Rudolph last September, and he signed on with the Dolphins’ practice squad in October. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL during a practice with Miami, which brought his season to an end. Jhabvala notes that Rudolph’s tryout with Denver was his first since the injury, and while the Broncos went in a different direction, it’s encouraging that Rudolph has been cleared for football activities. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him get more workouts in the coming weeks.
West Notes: 49ers, N. Bosa, Wagner, Benson
The 49ers have not had a high draft pick hold out of training camp since the new CBA and its rookie wage scale were instituted in 2011. However, the club’s top two 2019 draft choices, No. 2 overall pick Nick Bosa and No. 36 overall pick Deebo Samuel, have yet to sign their rookie deals. Cam Inman of the Mercury News believes that both players will be under contract by the time camp opens on Friday, but it seems that the club’s history, rather than any specific information on Bosa or Samuel, is the primary reason for that belief.
Now for more from the league’s west divisions:
- In the same piece linked above, Inman says that new 49ers acquisitions Kwon Alexander and Jason Verrett — along with every other member of the roster — should be cleared for action when camp opens, though San Francisco may ease them back into action. Inman also suggests that the backup QB competition between Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard will be a close one.
- This doesn’t come as much of a surprise given earlier reports that new Seahawks defensive end Ezekiel Ansah could miss at least the first month of the regular season, but Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes that Ansah is expected to open training camp on the PUP list. It remains to be seen if Ansah will, in fact, miss any regular season action, though Condotta says there should be more clarity on that front this week.
- Condotta also believes that Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner will get an extension before the season begins, and it could happen as soon as this week.
- We have taken several looks at the Broncos‘ WR corps over the past week or so, and UDFA Trinity Benson‘s name keeps cropping up. As Mike Klis of 9News.com writes, Benson took reps with the first-team offense Saturday and caught several passes from Joe Flacco. New head coach Vic Fangio said he will continue to put his unproven players on the field with the presumptive starters, and it seems that Benson has acquitted himself nicely thus far. The fact that he served as a kickoff and punt returner in college will only help his cause.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/11/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: S Dean Marlowe
- Released: OL Ruben Holcomb
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Bo Scarbrough
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Malcolm Lewis
- Released: WR Travis Rudolph
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Deatrick Nichols
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
- Released: QB Connor Cook
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DB Demetrious Cox
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Jeremiah McKinnon
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Jeremy McNichols
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Jerell Adams
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Tray Matthews, DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: FB Dimitri Flowers
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: S Leon McQuay, TE David Wells
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Jeff Richards, LB Tre’von Johnson
- Released: CB Channing Stribling, T Jamar McGloster
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Travis Rudolph
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Jordan Morgan, WR Roger Lewis, RB Dalyn Dawkins
NFL Workout Updates: 9/18/18
Here’s the latest from the NFL workout circuit on a busy Tuesday. All links to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted.
Arizona Cardinals
- LB Kennan Gilchrist, Hayes Pullard (Twitter link via Sirius XM’s Adam Caplan)
Atlanta Falcons
- CB Taveze Calhoun, CB Taurean Nixon, CB Malik Reaves (link)
Buffalo Bills
- DT Michael Bennett, DT Quinton Dial, QB Tyler Ferguson, CB Michael Hunter, OL Austin Pasztor, WR Hunter Sharp, WR Brandon Shippen, OL Jylan Ware (link)
Carolina Panthers
- T Isaiah Battle, TE Blake Bell, TE Billy Brown, TE Kyle Carter, T Roubbens Joseph, T Michael Ola, QB Dalton Sturm, T Darrell Williams (link)
Cleveland Browns
- WR Bennie Fowler, WR Dontrelle Inman, LB Azeem Victor (link)
Dallas Cowboys
- CB Jeremy Boykins, WR Chad Hansen, LB Ufomba Kamalu, WR Justice Liggins, DE Cameron Malveaux, WR Francis Owusu, T William Poehls, DT Christian Ringo, DT Adolphus Washington (link)
Detroit Lions
- DT Darius Kilgo (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, on Twitter)
Houston Texans
- RB Matthew Dayes, DE Anthony Lanier, RB Jeremy McNichols, CB Herb Waters, CB D.J. White, WR Isaac Whitney (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- T Gerhard de Beer, T Christian DiLauro, T Antonio Garcia, WR Francis Owusu, WR Brandon Reilly, WR Travis Rudolph (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- TE Jerell Adams, TE Nick Keizer, TE David Wells, , (via Caplan, on Twitter)
Los Angeles Chargers
- G Spencer Drango, T Jamar McGloster (via Caplan, on Twitter)
Los Angeles Rams
- G Ian Silberman, T David Steinmetz, T Darrell Williams (link)
New England Patriots
- QB Kyle Allen, RB Andre Ellington, RB Charcandrick West (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
New Orleans Saints
- LB Jonathan Freeny, LB Josh Keyes, LB Darnell Sankey, LB Martrell Spaight (via Caplan, on Twitter)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- CB De’Vante Bausby, DE Hunter Dimick, DT Sealver Siliga, LB Emmanuel Smith, CB Herb Waters, LB Antwione Williams (via Caplan, on Twitter)
Tennessee Titans
- CB Makinton Dorleant, DT Darius Kilgo, DT Dee Liner, DT Jamie Meder, S Josh Robinson, CB Henre’ Toliver (link)
Washington Redskins
- G Kofi Amichia, G Jamil Douglas, T Chris Durant, C Jake Eldrenkamp, T Justin Evans, G Kaleb Johnson (link)
NFL Workout Updates: 9/4/18
Today’s workout updates:
Buffalo Bills
- QB Josh Woodrum; WRs DeVier Posey and Hunter Sharp; OT Michael Dunn; G Landon Turner; C Anthony Fabiano, DTs Jay Bromley and Christian Ringo; DE Nate Orchard (per Field Yates of ESPN.com)
Cleveland Browns
- LB Nigel Harris (per Greg Auman of The Athletic)
Detroit Lions
- RB Matthew Dayes and Mark Thompson; DB Josh Robinson (per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Houston Texans
- DT Tomasi Laulile (per Wilson)
New York Jets
- QB Connor Cook (per Pro Football Talk); WR Travis Rudolph (per Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com)
Giants Lock In 53-Man Roster
The Giants will head into the 2018 season without one of their longest-tenured players and one of their 2017 starting safeties, with both Mark Herzlich and Darian Thompson failing to make the team.
A 2017 fifth-round pick, edge defender Avery Moss missed out as well. As did Roger Lewis, a wideout who became needed when the Giants became decimated at receiver last season.
The Giants also released recently signed cornerback Leonard Johnson, who was trying to make a fifth NFL franchise’s 53-man roster. The former Buccaneer, Patriot, Panther and Bill started seven games with Buffalo last season.
Here’s the full list of Giants cuts:
Released:
Waived:
- DB Andrew Adams
- OL Malcolm Bunche
- WR Marquis Bundy
- DL Tyrell Chavis
- WR Jawill Davis
- TE Garrett Dickerson
- WR Amba Etta-Tawo
- DL A.J. Francis
- DB Grant Haley
- LB Mike Jones
- OL Zac Kerin
- K Marshall Koehn
- DB Warren Long
- DL Izaah Lunsford
- LB Calvin Munson
- TE Ryan O’Malley
- RB Jhurrell Pressley
- WR Kalif Raymond
- WR Alonzo Russell
- WR Travis Rudolph
- OL Victor Salako
- RB Jalen Simmons
- DB Orion Stewart
- DL Robert Thomas
Waived with an injury designation
Placed on IR:
- OL Nick Becton
- OL Nick Gates
Placed on Reserve/NFI list:
- DL R.J. McIntosh
Suspended:
- DL Josh Mauro
Giants To Sign Travis Rudolph, Tavarres King
The Giants not only fell to 0-5 with a defeat against the Chargers on Sunday, but witnessed four of their top wide receivers suffer injuries of varying severity. With a lack of options on offense, New York will promote wideout Travis Rudolph from its practice squad and re-sign wide receiver Tavarres King, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) and Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Rudolph and King likely won’t be the only additions the Giants make in the coming days, as the club simply is bereft of wide receiver talent at the moment. Odell Beckham Jr. and Dwayne Harris are both out for the season after suffering a fractured ankle and a broken foot, respectively. Sterling Shepard has a sprained ankle and will miss several weeks, while Brandon Marshall also has an ankle sprain and an undetermined timetable, tweets Rapoport.
New York doesn’t have the benefit of turning to an established run game — the club ranks 31st in rushing DVOA — so adding more pass-catchers may be Big Blue’s best option. Ed Eagan and Marquis Bundy are on the Giants’ practice squad and could conceivably be promoted alongside Rudolph, while a free agent addition could also make sense. Marquess Wilson, Dorial Green-Beckham, Steve Johnson, Vincent Jackson, and old friend Victor Cruz are among the top options available on the open market.
Rudolph, for his part, went undrafted out of Florida State earlier this year and has spent the first five weeks of the season on New York’s practice squad. In his final campaign as a Seminole, Rudolph posted 56 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. In a predraft profile, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com called Rudolph a “solid route runner” with good hands but noted his lack of short-area quickness.
King, meanwhile, spent 2-14-16 with the Giants and caught a touchdown pass in the club’s playoff loss to the Packers earlier this year. All told, he’s managed only four receptions over the course of his career. King was released by the Giants last month and had subsequently auditioned for the Patriots, Bills, and Jets.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/17
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Jamil Douglas
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Tony McRae, C Matt Skura
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Eric Lee
- Released: S B.T. Sanders, CB Marcus Sayles
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: FB Alex Armah
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Ben Braunecker
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Rashard Higgins, CB Darius Hillary, S Kai Nacua
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Mark Nzeocha
- Released: WR Brian Brown
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB LaTroy Lewis
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Ronald Martin
- Released: S Andrew Williamson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Raysean Pringle
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Akeem Hunt
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Joseph Jones, CB Craig Mager
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, CB Kevin Peterson
- Released: OL Michael Dunn, DL Louis Trinca-Pasat
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Willie Beavers
- Released: LB Trevor Bates, DT Darius Kilgo
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Nordly Capi, WR Travis Rudolph
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Lawrence Thomas
- Released: DL Patrick Gamble
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Ben Boulware, RB Jeremy McNichols
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kenneth Durden
Giants Down To 53
The Giants are all kosher. Here’s the full rundown of their cuts and moves to get to 53:
Cut:
- QB Josh Johnson (story)
- RB Shaun Draughn
- RB Khalid Abdullah
- FB Jacob Huesman
- WR Travis Rudolph
- WR Jerome Lane
- WR Canaan Severin
- WR Marquis Bundy
- WR Ed Eagan
- TE Will Tye (story)
- OL Adam Bisnowaty
- OL Jon Halapio
- OL Jarron Jones
- OL Matt Rotheram
- DL Devin Taylor
- DL Bobby Richardson
- DL Jordan Williams
- DL Deontae Skinner
- DL Stansly Maponga
- DL Curtis Grant
- CB Donte Deayon
- CB DaShaun Amos
- CB Nigel Tribune
- S Ryan Murphy
- S Trey Robinson
- K Mike Nugent (story)
Placed on IR:
- DL Josh Banks
- LB Mark Herzlich