Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/23
The first of this year’s spring leagues to debut, the XFL’s third effort, finished its season Saturday. XFL players are now free to sign NFL contracts, and several agreed to terms Monday. Here are those agreements, along with the other transactions from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: DL Manny Jones, LB Blake Lynch
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DB Natrone Brooks, S Lukas Denis, DL LaCale London, T Barry Wesley
- Waived: LB David Anenih, CB Javelin Guidry, DB Matt Hankins, WR Ra’Saun Henry, DB Dylan Mabin, TE/FB John Raine
- Waived/injured: RB B.J. Baylor
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: T BJ Wilson
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: LB Storey Jackson, DT Roderick Perry
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Tyreik McAllister, RB Jacques Patrick
- Waived: WR Dallas Daniels, DB Darrious Gaines, TE Kris Leach, RB Emanuel Wilson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Dylan Drummond
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: S James Wiggins
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DB Latavious Brini, WR Jacob Harris
- Waived: DL Jayson Ademilola
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: CB Ekow Boye-Doe
- Waived: WR Ty Scott
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Kristian Wilkerson
- Waived: WR Tyler Johnson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Timarcus Davis, DL Taron Vincent
- Waived: WR Tyler Hudson, LB Matthew Jester, DB Jaiden Woodbey
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DB Bryce Thompson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Adrian Frye, DL Jack Heflin, DE Niko Lalos, RB Ellis Merriweather
- Waived: WR Sy Barnett, DB Vincent Gray
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Izaiah Gathings
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Luq Barcoo, RB Alfonzo Graham
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DL Austin Faoliu, NT Forrest Merrill
- Waived: LB Michael Ayers, DE Jacob Sykes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL C.J. Brewer, S Kedrick Whitehead
- Waived: T Dylan Cook, OLB Nelson Mbanasor
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: C James Empey, CB Eric Garror, WR Gavin Holmes, WR Kearis Jackson, CB Armani Marsh
Washington Commanders
- Signed: T Jaryd Jones-Smith
- Placed on active/PUP list: LB Drew White
After seeing the pandemic nix its second effort in 2020, the XFL concluded its season Saturday. The Broncos signed the league’s second-leading rusher, in Patrick, while the Browns and Cowboys offered Barqoo contracts, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Barqoo, who played for the Jaguars in 2020 and XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas this year, opted for the Steelers’ offer. Patrick, whom the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson notes passed a Broncos physical Monday, finished with 443 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He joins XFL passing leader Ben DiNucci as a Broncos May addition.
Seeing time for the St. Louis BattleHawks, Jones-Smith played in three games apiece with Raiders and Ravens, respectively, from 2020-21. Thompson will join the Dolphins after a spring tour of duty with the Seattle Sea Dragons, while fellow XFL alum Brewer played in two games for the Bills last year. Heflin played five games for the Packers in 2021; the new Saint spent the XFL season with the Houston Roughnecks.
The Raiders gave Johnson a reserve/futures deal in January. The young wideout collected a ring with the 2020 Buccaneers and totaled 360 receiving yards for Tampa Bay’s 2021 iteration. While the Texans claimed him on waivers ahead of last season, he played in just two games with the team.
Jackson suited up for national championship-winning Georgia last season. The new Titans wideout finished with 514 receiving yards in 2020 and totaled 320 for last season’s Bulldogs edition. A Division II Quincy alum, Wilson received an East-West Shrine Bowl invite but tore an Achilles tendon late last season.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/25/23
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Dallas Cowboys
- WR Antonio Callaway, S Tyler Coyle, WR Dennis Houston, OT Alex Taylor
Las Vegas Raiders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- K Jake Verity
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Dazz Newsome
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Michael Jacquet
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Keith Kirkwood
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Javelin Guidry
- Released: WR Deon Cain
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Tyler Johnson, CB Ryan Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Antony Auclair
- Released: DB Steven Parker
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Houston Texans
Claimed:
- WR Tyler Johnson (from Buccaneers; story)
Released:
Placed on IR:
- TE Teagan Quitoriano, CB Tavierre Thomas
Signed to practice squad:
- TE Jordan Akins, DB Grayland Arnold, WR Jalen Camp, QB Jeff Driskel, WR Drew Estrada, DB Jacobi Francis, DL Demone Harris, WR Johnny Johnson III, RB Marlon Mack (story), DB Tristin McCollum, OL Jimmy Morrissey, DL Adedayo Odeleye, OL Cedric Ogbuehi, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, TE Mason Schreck, OL Jordan Steckler
Indianapolis Colts
Signed:
- OT Dennis Kelly
Claimed:
- OL Luke Tenuta
Waived:
- CB Tony Brown
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Curtis Brooks, CB Tony Brown, DE Kameron Cline, WR Keke Coutee, S Marcel Dabo, WR Ethan Fernea, TE Nikola Kalinic, T Jordan Murray, RB D’Vonte Price, CB Will Redmond, LB Forrest Rhyne, TE Jared Scott, CB Chris Wilcox, DT Chris Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
Claimed:
- DB Tyree Gillespie (from Titans), RB JaMycal Hasty (from 49ers), K Riley Patterson (from Lions), WR Kendric Pryor (from Bengals), LB Ty Summers (from Packers) (story)
Released:
Signed to practice squad:
- QB E.J. Perry
Tennessee Titans
Signed:
Placed on IR:
- WR Racey McMath
Signed to practice squad:
- OLB David Anenih, RB Trenton Cannon, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, DB Chris Jackson, DB Theo Jackson, LB Joe Jones, WR Mason Kinsey, DL Larrell Murchison, OL Xavier Newman, TE Thomas Odukoya (international player), DL Sam Okuayinonu, DL Jayden Peevy, WR Reggie Roberson, OL Jordan Roos, OL Andrew Rupcich, TE David Wells, QB Logan Woodside
Texans Add WR Tyler Johnson Via Waivers
Tyler Johnson became a surprise Buccaneers cut Tuesday. As expected, the young wide receiver found a new home on waivers. The Texans claimed him, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
The former fifth-round pick has two years remaining on his rookie contract. He will head to a Texans team featuring less talent at the receiver position compared to the Bucs’ three-Pro Bowler (feat. Russell Gage) setup.
Tampa Bay added Gage and Julio Jones this offseason, doing so after franchise-tagging and extending Chris Godwin. Mike Evans remains as well. Breshad Perriman also remains with the Bucs. Tampa Bay’s receiver reload, in what could be Tom Brady‘s final season, left Johnson with a tougher-than-expected climb back to the 53-man roster.
A Minnesota alum, Johnson showed growth in his second season. He caught 36 passes for 360 yards in Year 2. While the presences of Godwin, Evans and, when available, Antonio Brown impacted Johnson’s status, he served as an intriguing depth piece in Tampa. In Houston, the 206-pound pass catcher should have more room for growth.
The Texans extended Brandin Cooks this offseason, shutting down trade rumors, and have 2021 third-rounder Nico Collins in place as Cooks’ top sidekick. But Johnson could profile as a Davis Mills tertiary target soon.
Buccaneers To Waive WR Tyler Johnson
Widely thought to be facing a roster crunch at the receiver position, the Buccaneers have moved on from a notable name buried down the depth chart. Tampa Bay is waiving Tyler Johnson, reports Greg Auman of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The 2020 fifth-rounder had a modest rookie season, recording 169 yards on 12 receptions. He took a step forward in terms of production last year, notching 36 catches for 360 yards. Still, he faced a long list of names ahead of him in the pecking order amongst Tampa’s other pass-catchers.
Already touting one of the league’s best WR tandems with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the Buccaneers made a pair of significant additions in free agency this offseason. The arrivals of Russell Gage and, more recently, Julio Jones, left the team with a well-defined group at the top of the depth chart. That left Johnson among several noteworthy wideouts in danger of finding themselves on the roster bubble.
It was reported earlier this month that the undrafted trio of Jerreth Sterns, Deven Thompkins and Kaylon Geiger would the make position’s logjam even harder to clear. Those three, especially given their ability to contribute on special teams, left the statuses of incumbents like Johnson and Cyril Grayson in doubt. The latter had already been waived, and 2019 sixth-rounder Scotty Miller could join them.
Tampa Bay has plenty of firepower in the passing game still, and will see just under $2MM in cap savings with this move. Johnson, meanwhile, will be a name to watch on the waiver wire given his age and draft status.
Bucs To Sign Rookies Tyler Johnson, Khalil Davis
The Buccaneers are chipping away at their rookie class. Sixth-round defensive tackle Khalil Davis has agreed to terms, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic (on Twitter). Meanwhile, fifth-round wide receiver Tyler Johnson has formally inked his deal, per an announcement from his agency (via Twitter). 
The Bucs sent several scouts to the 2020 Outback Bowl between Minnesota and Auburn. At that game, they watched Johnson turn in the best game of his collegiate career – 12 catches for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Clearly, that left an impression. With the No. 161 overall pick, they snagged Johnson to help round out their WR group. This summer, he’ll look to carve out his spot on the depth chart behind stars Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Davis, meanwhile, figures to support starting nose tackle Vita Vea. Even though he was a late pick, the Bucs are high on Davis’ skillset – at 308 pounds, he managed to run the 40-yard-dash at 4.75 seconds, good for sixth among all defensive linemen at the combine.
Here’s the full rundown of the Bucs’ class, via PFR’s 2020 NFL Draft tracker:
1-13: Tristan Wirfs, T (Iowa)
2-45: Antoine Winfield Jr., S (Minnesota)
3-76: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB (Vanderbilt)
5-161: Tyler Johnson, WR (Minnesota): Signed
6-194: Khalil Davis, DT (Nebraska): Signed
7-241: Chapelle Russell, OLB (Temple)
7-245: Raymond Calais, RB (LSU)