Texans Work Out CBs Zack Sanchez, Teddy Williams
The Texans recently worked out free agent cornerbacks Zack Sanchez and Teddy Williams, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Houston may be on the lookout for defensive back help after starting corner Kevin Johnson suffered a concussion during Saturday’s preseason game. While the Texans have already added one cornerback in 2017 undrafted free agent Bryce Jones, the club could bring in more bodies behind Johnson, Aaron Colvin, and Johnathan Joseph.
Sanchez, 24, entered the league as Panthers fifth-round pick in 2016. He lasted only five games before being placed on injured reserve during his rookie campaign, and subsequently spent the majority of the 2017 season on Carolina’s practice squad. After being waived by the Panthers in May, Sanchez auditioned for the Giants but has yet to land a contract.
Williams, 30, offers far more experience than Sanchez, as he’s appeared in 36 NFL games (though none since 2016). He actually overlapped with Sanchez on the Panthers’ roster in 2016. Williams has never made a start in the pros, as he’s mostly served on special-teams duty during his NFL tenure. He inked a one-year deal with the Giants in May, but requested his release earlier this month in order to deal with a family issue.
Giants Work Out Alterraun Verner
The Giants are looking into some cornerback help. On Friday, the Giants auditioned Alterraun Verner and Zack Sanchez, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets. 
Verner, 29, was once regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. However, much has changed since he inked a four-year, $25.5MM deal with the Bucs in 2014. Last year, the Dolphins signed Verner to serve as a slot option, but he didn’t do much in that area as Bobby McCain enjoyed a breakout season.
Sanchez, you may recall, was one of three cornerbacks drafted by the Panthers in 2016 as they attempted to replace Josh Norman on the cheap. That experiment did not work out, and Sanchez has not seen live action since.
The Giants recently lost supplemental draft pick Sam Beal, so they could use some reinforcements at cornerback. Veteran Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie continues to float in limbo, but we wouldn’t bank on a reunion.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/18
Today’s minor moves (so far):
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DT Siupeli Anau, WR C.J. Duncan, LB Airius Moore, OL Greg Pyke
- Waived: CB Elijah Battle, LB Mike Needham, OL Austin Olsen, WR Jonah Trinnaman
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DE Da’Sean Downey
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: FB Zach Olstad
- Waived/Injured: RB Aaron Green
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Bug Howard, C Kyle Friend, T/G Quinterrius Eatmon, DE Karter Schult
- Waived/Injured: CB Zack Sanchez
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Matt Fleming, DB John Franklin, DB Tyrin Holloway, OL Jeremi Hall, OL Matt McCants
- Waived: OL Travis Averill, OL Cameron Lee, LB Howard Jones, LB Nyles Morgan
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Chris Okoye, C Brand Lundblade, S Tyrice Beverette
- Waived: LB Oni Omoile, TE Scott Orndoff, CB Robenson Therezie
Cleveland Browns
- Signed DB Tigie Sankoh, QB Brogan Roback
Denver Broncos
- Waived: NT Lowell Lotulelei (Lotulelei is retiring, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic, on Twitter)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Deontez Alexander, TE Marcus Lucas, CB Josh Okonye
- Waived: WR Kyle Lewis
- Waived/Injured: TE Brandon Barnes
Houston Texans
- Placed on Reserve-Retired list: K.J. Malone
- Signed: T Kendell Calhoun, DE Nick Thurman
- Waived: WR Montay Crockett
- Waived/failure to disclose physical condition designation: DE Jalen Wilkerson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT Jared Machorro
- Waived: C Anthony Fabiano
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Zach Conque, LB Manase Hungalu, OL Brandon Smith
- Waived: OL Avery Gennesy
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: QB Luis Perez
New England Patriots
- Signed: P Corey Bojorquez
- Waived/NFI: WR Darren Andrews
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OT Michael Ola
- Waived: LB Adam Bighill, OL Daronte Bouldin, S Rickey Jefferson, Bradley Sylve
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: S Dallin Leavitt, LS Drew Scott
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR/KR Tim Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: G/T R.J. Prince
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Clayton Wilson
Washington Redskins
- Signed: C Casey Dunn, LB Vontae Diggs, WR Darvin Kidsy
- Waived: WR Mikah Holder, C Sean Welsh
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/9/18
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Carolina Panthers
- TE Evan Baylis
- LB Richie Brown
- WR Austin Duke
- WR Jamaal Jones
- DE Efe Obada
- S Damian Parms
- CB Zack Sanchez
- S Dezmen Southward
- TE Kent Taylor
Cleveland Browns
- DL Collin Bevins
Kansas City Chiefs
- TE Jace Amaro
- RB George Atkinson
- WR Daniel Braverman
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- TE Anthony Firkser
- LB Tyrone Holmes
- G Kaleb Johnson
- T Dillon Gordon
- DT Mike Purcell
- CB Will Redmond
- T Andrew Wylie
New Orleans Saints
Oakland Raiders
- DB Shaquille Richardson
Philadelphia Eagles
- C Jon Toth
Washington Redskins
- DB Kenny Ladler
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/17/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: QB Garrett Grayson, DT Joey Ivie
- Released: K Mike Meyer
- Placed on injured list: QB Trevor Knight
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: L.J. McCray
- Released: DT Marquavius Lewis, G Jordan Mudge
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Zack Sanchez, RB Jalen Simmons, S Dezmen Southward
- Released: LB Zeek Bigger
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR River Cracraft
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: QB Jerod Evans
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Josh Ferguson
- Released: WR Cyril Richardson
Washington Redskins
- Released: QB Joel Stave
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/7/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
Buffalo Bills
- Released from IR: OL Michael Ola
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR: CB Zack Sanchez
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Tyrone Holmes
- Cut: OL Zach Sterup, QB Josh Woodrum
Houston Texans
- Released from IR: TE RaShaun Allen, CB Malik Smith
New England Patriots
- Signed: C/G Ted Karras
Panthers’ Roster Down To 77
The Panthers made a series of moves on Friday to bring their roster to 77 players, still 24 above the 53-man limit (courtesy of Bryan Strickland of the team’s website):
Waived:
- C Brian Folkerts
- CB Devonte Johnson
- DT Gabriel Mass
- DE Arthur Miley
- DE Efe Obada
- TE Bryce Williams
- DT Connor Wujciak
- CB Zack Sanchez (waived/injured)
Released outright (vested veterans who are not subject to waivers):
Placed on IR:
- OT Dan France
- WR Fred Ross
- TE Scott Simonson
- CB Teddy Williams
- G David Yankey
Panthers Place LT Michael Oher On IR
Michael Oher‘s season is over. The Panthers announced that he will be placed on injured reserve, along with cornerback Zack Sanchez. In a related move, tackle Donald Hawkins has been waived. 
After a down year with the Titans in 2014, Oher found his way to Carolina last year and enjoyed a rebound season. Oher appeared in all 16 regular season games and graded out as a top-30 offensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. Over the summer, he was rewarded with a lucrative three-year, $21.6MM extension. Unfortunately, Oher has not played since Week 3 of this season due to a concussion. He apparently hasn’t made enough progress over the past two months and he’ll be shut down for the year with an eye on getting healthy for 2017.
Sanchez was one of three cornerbacks drafted by the Panthers this year as they attempted to replace Josh Norman on the cheap. Surprisingly, Sanchez missed the cut in early September, but he was quickly signed to the practice squad. The youngster’s 53-man break came last month when one-time starter Bene Benwikere was released. His year ends with five games played (one start) and eight total tackles.
Panthers Cut Bene Benwikere
Days after having a rough outing against Julio Jones, the Panthers have decided to cut starting cornerback Bene Benwikere, a source tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter). Benwikere did not look sharp against the Falcons, but he did earn himself a starting job and had an interception in the team’s season opener. His release comes as a surprise and he will likely be claimed by another team.
Last year, “Big Play Bene” appeared in 13 games (four starts) before a broken leg shut him down for the season. In total, the cornerback had 59 tackles, nine pass deflections, and one sack on the year last year. This year, he had ten tackles and four passes defensed before being bounced by Carolina.
On Oct. 2, Jones caught 12 passes for 300 yards and one touchdown. It was fair to assume that they would make some kind of change, but few expected them to bounce Benwikere.
In a related move, cornerback Zack Sanchez has been signed from the p-squad.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC South
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Atlanta Falcons
- Claimed:
- WR Taylor Gabriel (link via Mike Florio of PFT)
- Waived:
- Signed to practice squad:
- DE Nordly Capi
- CB Devonte Johnson
- DT Joey Mbu
- WR J.D. McKissic
- S Sharrod Neasman
- QB Matt Simms
- TE D.J. Tialavea
- RB Gus Johnson (Twittler link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
- CB Deji Olatoye (Twittler link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed:
- DE Lavar Edwards (Link via PFT)
- Waived:
- DE Wes Horton (Link via David Newton)
- Signed to practice squad
- CB Zack Sanchez (Link via Adam Caplan)
- S Marcus Ball
- LB Brian Blechen
- DT Eric Crume
- WR Keyarris Garrett
- TE Beau Sandland
- RB Jalen Simmons
- DE Larry Webster
- OL David Yankey
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to practice squad:
- OL John Fullington (Link via Josh Katzenstein)
- CB Brian Dixon (Link via Mike Triplett)
- DE Bobby Richardson
- LB Tony Steward
- FB Austin Johnson
- C Jack Allen,
- TE Garrett Griffin
- WR Jake Lampman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to practice squad:
- RB Russell Hansbrough (Link via Jim Thomas)
- WR Jeremy Butler (Link via PFT)
- LB Josh Keyes (link via Greg Auman)
- RB Peyton Barber (story via Auman)
- OL Josh Allen
- OL Ben Gottschalk
- CB Javien Elliott
- S Isaiah Johnson
- LB Micah Awe (Link via Auman)
- WR Freddie Martino