NFL Workout Updates: 12/11/18
Here’s the latest from the NFL’s workout circuit, all links going to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account (unless otherwise noted). The first day teams can sign players to reserve/futures contracts is New Year’s Eve.
Arizona Cardinals
- DT Toby Johnson (link)
Buffalo Bills
- LB Marquis Flowers (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak)
Cleveland Browns
- WR Chance Allen, WR Devin Lucien, WR Brandon Reilly, T Dakoda Shepley, LB Alex Singleton (link)
Denver Broncos
- WR Shay Fields, LB Chris Frey, CB Kameron Kelly, LB Hau’oli Kikaha, CB Trevon Mathis, QB Bo Levi Mitchell (CFL tryout), DL Henry Mondeaux, LB Tegray Scales, LB Robert Spillane, WR Greg Ward (Twitter links)
Detroit Lions
- DT Joshua Frazier, DT Greg Gilmore, DE Alec James, T Jarron Jones, LB Jacob Pugh, DT Elijah Qualls, DE Jonathan Wynn (link)
Green Bay Packers
- DB Tevaughn Campbell (link)
Houston Texans
- LB Kennan Gilchrist, CB Josh Hawkins (Twitter links)
Indianapolis Colts
- CB Johnathan Alston, T William Poehls, DT DeShawn Williams (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR C.J. Board, LB Farrington Huguenin, DE Alec James, TE Marcus Lucas, TE Troy Mangen, WR Jordan Veasy, LB Antwione Williams (link)
Los Angeles Rams
- LB Sam Eguavoen (CFL tryout) (link)
New York Jets
- LB Zaire Anderson, LB Kwaku Boateng (CFL tryout), RB Joel Bouagnon, RB Mack Brown, RB Martez Carter, LB Jonathan Celestin, LB Avery Ellis (CFL tryout), LB Manase Hungalu, K Ty Long (CFL tryout), T Ryker Mathews (CFL tryout), WR Bryant Mitchell (CFL tryout), RB Akrum Wadley, WR D’haquille Williams (CFL tryout) (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LB Emmanuel Smith (link)
Tennessee Titans
- T Cornelius Lucas, G/T Austin Pasztor (Twitter links)
Washington Redskins
- G Kaleb Johnson, G Jordan Morgan, T Norman Price (link)
NFL Workout Updates: 9/11/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Buffalo Bills
- DT Du’Vonta Lumpkin (link)
Carolina Panthers
- WRs Donteea Dye, Brandon Reilly (link)
Cleveland Browns
- RB Mark Thompson (per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com); TE Vince Mayle; G Spencer Drango; C Anthony Fabiano; LBs Richie Brown, Tegray Scales (per Caplan)
Green Bay Packers
- TEs Troy Mangen, Ethan Wolf; CBs Trevon Mathis, Linden Stephens (link)
Houston Texans
- OTs Christian DiLauro, Rees Odhiambo, David Sharpe; G Will Holden; DT Josh Banks; Ks Jon Brown, Sam Ficken, Kai Forbath; Ps Brad Nortman, Colton Schmidt, Justin Vogel; LS Zach Triner (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- FB Jalston Fowler; LBs Kennan Gilchrist, Nigel Harris, Jacob Pugh, Antwione Williams; DE Charles Tapper (link)
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
- G Spencer Drango; C Anthony Fabiano; LBs Richie Brown, Tegray Scales; CB Herb Waters (link)
New York Jets
- LB Harvey Langi (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- LBs Tre’von Johnson, Emmanuel Smith (per Caplan)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- QBs Brogan Roback, Josh Woodrum; RBs Matthew Dayes, Akrum Wadley; WR Isaac Whitney; CBs Jeremy Boykins (link)
Washington Redskins
- QB Kyle Allen (per Wilson); WRs Jehu Chesson, Amba Etta-Tawo, Jordan Leslie, Devin Lucien, Ka’Raun White; LB Kennan Gilchrist (per Balzer)
Falcons Reduce Roster To 52
The Falcons have trimmed down their roster. The team announced that they’ve reduced their roster to 52 players, meaning they’re leaving one spot open for a potential free agent addition.
We learned yesterday that the organization was moving on from defensive back Ron Parker and offensive lineman Austin Pasztor. The rest of the team’s moves are below:
Waived:
- QB Kurt Benkert
- WR Christian Blake
- FS Marcelis Branch
- OT Daniel Brunskill
- DB Deante Burton
- WR Dontez Byrd
- LB Jonathan Celestin
- DE Mackendy Cheridor
- DB Secdrick Cooper
- RB Justin Crawford
- DT Jon Cunningham
- WR Reggie Davis
- OG Jamil Douglas
- LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
- FB Jalston Fowler
- TE Jaeden Graham
- S Tyson Graham
- TE Alex Gray
- WR Devin Gray
- QB Garrett Grayson
- OG Sean Harlow
- C J.C. Hassenauer
- DE J.T. Jones
- WR Lamar Jordan
- DB Chris Lammons
- RB Terrence Magee
- TE Troy Mangen
- K David Marvin
- DB Ryan Neal
- LB Emmanuel Smith
- DT Garrison Smith
- K Giorgio Tavecchio
- DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
- OG Salesi Uhatafe
- WR Julian Williams
- LB Anthony Winbush
Waived/injured:
Falcons Sign 27 UDFAs
The Falcons have signed a whopping 27 undrafted free agents. Here is the full rundown:
- Kurt Benkert, QB (Virginia)
- Christian Blake, WR (Northern Illinois)
- Dontez Byrd, WR (Tennessee Tech)
- Jontey Byrd, DL (Kent State)
- Mackendy Cheridor, DL (Georgia State)
- Detrich Clark, WR (Colorado State)
- Matt Gono, OL (Wesley College)
- Secdrick Cooper, S (Louisiana Tech)
- Justin Crawford, RB (West Virginia)
- Emmanuel Ellerbee, LB (Rice)
- Devin Gray, WR (Cincinnati)
- J.C. Hassenauer, OL (Alabama)
- Richard Jarvis, LB (Brown)
- Lamar Jordan, QB/WR (New Mexico)
- Chris Lammons, S (South Carolina)
- David Martin, K (Georgia)
- Troy Mangen, TE (Ohio)
- Luke McNitt, FB (Nebraska)
- Daniel Marx, FB (Stanford)
- Joseph Putu, CB (Florida)
- Demario Richard, RB (Arizona State)
- Jake Roh, TE (Boise State)
- Emmanuel Smith, LB (Vanderbilt)
- Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, DL (UCLA)
- Salesi Uhatafe, OL (Utah)
- Anthony Winbush, LB (Ball State)
- Malik Williams, RB (Louisville)
Most NFL teams do not employ a fullback but the Falcons rostered one last year in Derrick Coleman, so McNitt and Marx may have a shot at making the team. At quarterback, there may be an opportunity for Benkert and Lamar Jordan to unseat Garrett Grayson as the third QB (assuming Jordan is being evaluated as a QB), though they are well set with Matt Schaub as the primary backup to Matt Ryan.
Benkert received a $60K guarantee to sign, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, so it’s clear that the Falcons think highly of him. Benkert started his collegiate career at East Carolina before transferring to Virginia for the 2016 season. In two years as Virginia’s starter, he completed 57.7% of his passes with 46 touchdowns against 21 interceptions.
In other Falcons news, GM Thomas Dimitroff recently addressed speculation about the team’s relationship with star Julio Jones. The Falcons also triggered the fifth-year option for defensive end Vic Beasley recently.