NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/21/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE John Raine
- Placed on IR: OL Justin Shaffer
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released: LB Tegray Scales
Cleveland Browns
- Released: G Jordan Meredith
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT R.J. McIntosh
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Benton Whitley
New England Patriots
- Signed: K Tristan Vizcaino
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Jarrod Hewitt
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Chris Conley, OL Eric Smith
- Released: TE Anthony Auclair
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/15/22
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: OL Rashaad Coward
- Released: K Tristan Vizcaino
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DE Kingsley Jonathan
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Dolphins practice squad: DT Ben Stille
- Waived: DT Roderick Perry II
Green Bay Packers
- Signed to active roster: RB Patrick Taylor
Houston Texans
- Waived: CB Isaac Yiadom
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated off PUP: CB Tre Brown
Cardinals Place C Rodney Hudson On IR, Sign K Tristan Vizcaino
The Cardinals have placed center Rodney Hudson on injured reserve, per a team announcement. Hudson has dealt with knee trouble since training camp, and while he played in the first four games of the season, he has been sidelined ever since.
It is fair to wonder whether this is the end of the line for Hudson, who reportedly contemplated retirement this offseason. In 2021, his first season with the Cardinals, he was one of Pro Football Focus’ worst-rated centers after years of high-level performance. Since he became a full-time starter in 2013, his third professional season, he had not registered a PFF grade below 71.0, but that number fell to 60.9 last season.
2021 also saw the typically-durable blocker miss five games due to rib and shoulder injuries, and combined with this year’s knee ailment, his health is clearly an increasing concern. He is under contract through 2023, though the Cardinals’ interior O-line has been hit hard by injury this year, and the club could seek to remake that unit this offseason.
Arizona first turned to Sean Harlow to replace Hudson, and then to former Bengals first-rounder Billy Price. Price never lived up to his draft status in Cincinnati, which is why he was available for the Cards to pluck him off the Raiders’ taxi squad in early October. While it appears he will continue operating at the pivot in the near-term, his performance has not improved. His dismal 38.6 overall grade, underscored by four penalties and four sacks allowed, is the second-worst mark in the league among players with enough snaps to qualify.
In other Cardinals news, the team signed kicker Tristan Vizcaino to the active roster. Matt Prater, who has battled a hip injury this year, will miss Arizona’s Week 10 contest against the Rams. Vizcaino has made nine of his 10 career field goal tries, though he is just 12-for-17 on PATs.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/1/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: OL Sage Doxtater, OL Danny Isidora
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Amani Bledsoe
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Daryl Worley
Buffalo Bills
- Relased: CB Jordan Miller
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe, RB Nate McCrary
- Released: CB Gavin Heslop, RB John Lovett
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Zach McCloud
- Released: LB Kana’i Mauga
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S Brady Breeze
Green Bay Packers
- Released: LB Kobe Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Buddy Johnson
Miami Dolphins
- Released: QB Reid Sinnett
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Hayden Howerton, P Michael Palardy
- Released: DL Ron’Dell Carter, K Tristan Vizcaino
New Orleans Saints
- Released: DB Jordan Brown, QB Jake Luton
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Willie Snead
- Released: WR Malik Turner
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Laquon Treadwell
- Released: WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OT Justin Skule
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/26/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Sage Doxtater, G Danny Isidora
- Released: WR Laquon Treadwell
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Daurice Fountain
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: S Bryce Cosby, DT Kyle Peko
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: G Jeremiah Kolone
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Grant Hermanns
New England Patriots
- Signed: K Tristan Vizcaino
- Placed on IR: DL LaBryan Ray
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB DaMarcus Fields
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/18/22
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad additions and subtractions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Blake Lynch
- Released: WR Stanley Berryhill
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: DT Kobe Smith
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Brandon Copeland, LB Julian Stanford
- Released: LB Jeremiah Attaochu, WR Slade Bolden
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Spencer Brown, DE Delontae Scott, DT Raequan Williams
- Released: TE Josh Babicz, DE Austin Larkin, TE John Lovett
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Sammis Reyes
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Brandon Johnson
- Released: TE Dalton Keene
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: S Innis Gaines
- Released: CB Benjie Franklin, LB Ray Wilborn
Houston Texans
- Signed: S C.J. Moore
- Released: CB BoPete Keyes
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR DeMichael Harris
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Deionte Thompson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LS Kyle Nelson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB La’Mical Perine
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: S Myles Dorn
- Released: S Mike Brown
New England Patriots
- Released: K Tristan Vizcaino
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB Jake Luton, DE Jabari Zuniga
- Released: DT Christian Ringo
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Conor McDermott
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Jason Huntley, WR Josh Malone
- Released: S Scott Nelson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: QB Kurt Benkert, CB Ka’dar Hollman
- Released: LB Buddy Johnson, K Sam Sloman
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: WR Kevin Kassis
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: OL Justin Skule
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Kyron Brown, DB Steven Parker
- Released: DB Nate Brooks
Washington Commanders
- Released: DT Donovan Jeter
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/21/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Andre Baccellia, WR Stanley Berryhill, WR C.J. Board, CB Nate Hairston
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Brandon Copeland
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Tanner Gentry
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Frank Herron
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: C Matt Skura
New England Patriots
- Signed: K Tristan Vizcaino
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Adam Pankey
- Released: OL Chris Glaser
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Khalil Davis
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Christian DiLauro
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DT Donovan Jeter
- Placed on IR: OL Nolan Laufenberg
With K Harrison Butker Ailing, Chiefs Sign Kicker To Practice Squad
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is dealing with an ankle injury from the team’s season opener. He returned to the game later on, but the injury may be more serious than initially thought as Kansas City opted to add former Jets kicker Matt Ammendola to their practice squad tonight, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. 
Butker slipped on the kickoff following the Kansas City’s opening scoring drive yesterday and limped off the field with a hurt ankle. The Chiefs trotted out safety Justin Reid for the next two extra point attempts, which he split one for two. After Reid’s missed extra point attempt, the Chiefs brought Butker back for field goals and extra points, but kept Reid as the kickoff specialist.
Seeing Butker’s return inspired hope that his injury was not too serious, but today’s signing hints that there might be reason to worry. Ammendola was the winner of what was a kicking contest between several free agents today, according to another tweet from Pelissero. He beat out Elliott Fry, Chase McLaughlin, Cody Parkey, Tristan Vizcaino, and rookie Cameron Dicker.
Ammendola went undrafted two years ago out of Oklahoma State. He eventually spent a few months in the offseason leading up to the 2021 season with the Panthers before signing with the Jets. He made his NFL debut in New York, playing in 11 games. Ammendola was perfect from within 40 yards, going 11 for 11, but struggled from a distance going two for eight on kicks longer than 40 yards, including missing all three kicks from over 50 yards. He was mostly reliable on extra points, though, converting 14 of his 15 attempts. He also served double-duty doing kickoffs and punts for the Jets.
It’s not a foregone conclusion that Ammendola is kicking for the Chiefs this week, but placing him on the practice squad allows the Chiefs to call him up on a day’s notice if Butker is not feeling 100-percent leading up to the team’s Thursday night matchup against the Chargers.
Patriots Trim Roster To 53 Players
The Patriots cut down their roster to 53 players today. In the process, they let go of a handful of recent draft picks, including a 2022 selection:
Released:
- DB Justin Bethel
- OL James Ferentz
- LB Harvey Langi
- CB Terrance Mitchell
Waived:
- TE Devin Asiasi
- OL Yasir Durant
- OL Drew Desjarlais
- OL Arlington Hambright
- WR Josh Hammond
- RB Kevin Harris
- DB Brad Hawkins
- WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- LB Cameron McGrone
- OL Bill Murray
- WR Tre Nixon
- DL Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
- DL LaBryan Ray
- OL Kody Russey
- G William Sherman
- TE Matt Sokol
- RB J.J. Taylor
- K Tristan Vizcaino
- LB Nate Wieland
- TE Jalen Wydermyer
Placed on IR:
The Patriots acknowledged some of their previous draft mistakes today. The team let go of three 2021 draft picks in wide receiver Tre Nixon, linebacker Will Sherman, and linebacker Cameron McGrone, and they even let go of a 2022 draft pick in sixth-round running back Kevin Harris. However, perhaps the biggest move was releasing tight end end Devin Asiasi. After waiving fellow 2020 third-round tight end Dalton Keene earlier this month, Asiasi was let go today. Despite his third-round status, Asiasi only saw time in 10 games for the Patriots in two years. With Asiasi and Keene out of the picture, it was expected that Lil’Jordan Humphrey would make the squad as a hybrid WR/TE. However, for the time being, the Patriots will roll with only two tight ends in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.
Terrance Mitchell started 29 games over the past two seasons in stints with the Browns and Texans, and he had a chance to compete for a starting gig in New England. However, despite all the uncertainty surrounding the position, the veteran wasn’t able to make his mark, leading to a surprising release. Justin Bethel is another surprising cut, as the veteran has established himself as a special teams ace in recent years.
Patriots Sign K Tristan Vizcaino, Waive K Quinn Nordin
Tristan Vizcaino went through a busy week. The former Chargers kicker scheduled workouts with the Patriots, Raiders and Ravens. The Patriots are adding the young specialist to their offseason roster.
Considering the sudden interest level, it does not come as a surprise Vizcaino will exit the work week with a deal. He will replace Quinn Nordin, whom the Patriots waived Friday. Vizcaino, 25, worked out for the Pats during their minicamp this week.
The Patriots have used Nick Folk as their kicker for the past two-plus seasons, signing the veteran in 2019 and keeping him on as their primary post-Stephen Gostkowski option since. They re-signed Folk this offseason. Vizcaino, who has kicked for the 49ers and Chargers over a two-year career, should represent competition and insurance going into training camp. Though, the 37-year-old incumbent should still be viewed as the likely Pats 2022 kicker.
The Raiders scheduled a Vizcaino workout this week, while the Ravens were prepared to have him kick at their minicamp next week. This marks a bounce-back opportunity for Vizcaino, who struggled in his extended Chargers audition to start last season. He missed five of the 15 extra points he attempted with the Bolts, who replaced him with Dustin Hopkins near the midseason point. Vizcaino was 6 of 7 on field goals as a Charger, however.
He served as the Washington Huskies’ kicker and punter in 2017 but did not kick in the NFL between then and his one-game 49ers gig in 2020. The Patriots will be Vizcaino’s seventh team. Although he has only kicked in games with the Bolts and 49ers, the Chino Hills, California, native has also spent time with the Bengals, Cowboys, Bills and Vikings since 2019.
Nordin signed with the Pats as a UDFA last season. More teams carried practice squad kickers than usual over the past two years, with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting active rosters weekly. While Folk kicked in every Pats game last season, the Pats gave Nordin a futures contract earlier this year. Nordin has not practiced this offseason and was waived with a non-football injury designation, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter links). The Pats also considered signing kicker Lucas Havrisik.