Falcons Reach 53 Man Limit
The Falcons reached the 53-man limit by dropping a total of 35 players and placing quarterback Matt Simms on injured reserve. Along the way, the Falcons also cut some notable veterans.
Here’s the full rundown of the team’s cuts, including some previously reported moves:
S Parker Baldwin
LB Yurik Bethune
WR Christian Blake
RB Tony Brooks-James
LB Richie Brown (Waived/injured)
CB Taveze Calhoun (Waived/injured)
LB Bruce Carter (Released)
DT Stefan Charles (Released)
S Chris Cooper
LB Tre Crawford
TE Thomas Duarte
QB Danny Etling
OL Adam Gettis (Released)
TE Alex Gray (Waived/injured)
WR Devin Gray
WR Marcus Green
OL Sean Harlow
DE Austin Larkin
S Ronald Martin (Released)
LB Chase Middleton
DE Durrant Miles
C Chandler Miller
CB Jalen Myrick
CB Ryan Neal
DE Chris Odom
TE Logan Paulsen (Released)
LB Del’Shawn Phillips (Waived/injury settlement)
OT Jaelin Robinson
CB Jayson Stanley (Waived/injury settlement)
K Giorgio Tavecchio
DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
K Blair Walsh (Released)
OL John Wetzel (Released)
WR C.J. Worton
DT Justin Zimmer
Falcons To Sign K Blair Walsh
Another kicker shakeup may occur this preseason. With their incumbent kicker struggling, the Falcons will sign Blair Walsh, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). While Giorgio Tavecchio remains on the team, he is now set for a full-fledged competition.
The Falcons confirmed the move, which comes after Dan Quinn suggested the team would bring in competition for Tavecchio. The third-year kicker has struggled during the preseason, missing 4 of 8 attempts — including a 39-yarder — thus far this month.
A Georgia alum, Walsh worked out for the Jets and Bears this year. Both teams opted against adding the former Vikings kicker. Should Walsh beat out Tavecchio, he would face his former team in Week 1. Walsh did not play in 2018.
Walsh has not kicked since a disappointing 2017 season. The Seahawks moved on from him after he went 21-for-29 that season. Minnesota initially selected Walsh in the 2012 sixth round and used him as its kicker for five seasons. The 29-year-old specialist earned All-Pro acclaim as a rookie, going 10-for-10 from beyond 50 yards, but his miss inside of 30 yards cost the Vikings a wild-card win against the Seahawks in 2015. He has yet to fully rebound from that errant try.
The Falcons also signed defensive tackle Stefan Charles and tight end Thomas Duarte. To make room for this new trio, the team waived wide receivers Shawn Bane and Kahlil Lewis, along with offensive lineman Tommy Doles.
Chiefs Cut Down To Final 53
In addition to David Amerson, the Chiefs will release longtime depth cog Frank Zombo.
The outside linebacker’s been in Kansas City since the Andy Reid regime began in 2013. He started 11 games in 2016, when Justin Houston missed most of the season with knee trouble, but will not be part of the 2018 team. The Chiefs drafted Breeland Speaks in the second round and plan to use 2017 second-rounder Tanoh Kpassagnon more extensively than they did last season.
Here’s the full list of players who won’t be on Kansas City’s initial 53-man roster.
Released:
- CB David Amerson
- DT Stefan Charles
- RB Kerwynn Williams
- TE Tim Wright
- OLB Frank Zombo
Waived:
- TE Jace Amaro
- WR Daniel Braverman
- FB Algernon Brown
- WR Jehu Chesson
- G Ethan Cooper
- WR Josh Crockett
- LB Raymond Davison
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- CB Makinton Dorleant
- DB Step Durham
- LB Ukeme Eligwe
- LB Tyrone Holmes
- T Ryan Hunter
- RB Ray Lowry
- DT Dee Liner
- QB Chase Litton
- WR Blake Mack
- LB Rob McCray
- DT T.Y. McGill
- S Leon McQuay
- C Jimmy Murray
- LB Otha Peters
- DT Mike Purcell
- CB Keith Reaser
- CB Will Redmond
- WR Jordan Smallwood
- T Bentley Spain
- DB Arrion Springs
- S Jordan Sterns
- DB D’Montre Wade
Placed on IR:
Suspended:
Chiefs Re-Sign DT Stefan Charles
Stefan Charles wasn’t out of work for long. The Chiefs announced that they have re-signed the defensive tackle, just days after releasing him. 
Charles saw time as a reserve for the Bills and Lions, but hasn’t played much since 2016. Last year, Charles spent much of the year on the workout trail before signing with the Chiefs just prior to their January Wild Card loss to the Titans. He was re-upped in March, then cut on Tuesday along with Rakeem Nunez-Roches, but now he’s back in the fold.
Charles, who will turn 30 in June, registered five sacks for the Bills between 2013-2015. He has 49 career games and two starts on his resume.
The Chiefs project to start newcomer Xavier Williams at nose tackle with third-round pick Derrick Nnadi serving as a backup. Charles will compete with Justin Hamilton and others for a spot on the roster as a reserve DT.
Chiefs Cut RB Akeem Hunt, DT Stefan Charles
The Chiefs have waived running back Akeem Hunt with a failed physical designation and released defensive tackle Stefan Charles, the club announced today.
Hunt, who spent the first two seasons of his career with the Texans, barely played on offense for Kansas City last season, but saw ample time (171 snaps) on special teams. On a mere eight rush attempts, Hunt managed only 2.9 yards per carry, and added four receptions in the passing game. Hunt’s role would have been extremely limited going forward, as the Chiefs added both Kerwynn Williams and Damien Williams to a running back depth chart that already includes starter Kareem Hunt, Charcandrick West, and Spencer Ware.
Charles, meanwhile, is the second Kansas City interior lineman to collect his walking papers today, as the Chiefs also cut ties with Rakeem Nunez-Roches earlier on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Charles has a decent track record as a reserve for the Bills and Lions, but he hasn’t seen the field since 2016. Charles spent the 2017 campaign on the workout circuit before signing with the Chiefs just before their January Wild Card game; he was subsequently re-signed in March.
In addition to parting ways with Hunt and Charles, the Chiefs also made the following moves:
- Claimed off waivers: TE Alex Ellis
- Signed: CB Step Durham, DE Robert McCray, CB Malik Reaves, WR Jordan Smallwood
- Waived: CB Prince Charles Iworah, OL DeVondre Seymour, WR Brandon Shippen, WR Nelson Spruce
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/20/18
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: LB Ramon Humber
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: LB John Timu
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Josh Keyes
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: DT Stefan Charles
Chiefs Place CB Phillip Gaines On IR
The Chiefs announced that they have placed cornerback Phillip Gaines on injured reserve. This means that Gaines will not be in action for Saturday’s Wild Card game against the Titans or any other potential playoff games. 
Gaines saw a good amount of time to start the season, but slipped on the depth chart as the season wore on. He did see an uptick in playing time in Week 17, but the Chiefs are not willing to keep him on the roster while they wait to see how his elbow heals. Without Gaines, the Chiefs will move forward with Marcus Peters, Terrance Mitchell, Steven Nelson, and Darrelle Revis, Keith Reaser, and Kenneth Acker as their cornerbacks.
To take Gaines’ place on the roster, the Chiefs have signed defensive tackle Stefan Charles. Charles did not see the field in 2017 after missing the Jaguars’ initial cut, but he was a regular for the Bills and Lions over the previous four seasons.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/5/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Buffalo Bills
- RB Roy Finch; S Duke Ihenacho (link via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM); DB William Likely (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Denver Broncos
- QB Mitch Leidner (link via Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN); G Tre’ Jackson (link via Caplan); P Brock Miller (link)
Detroit Lions
- TE Ryan O’Malley (link via Caplan)
Green Bay Packers
- DT Stefan Charles; LB Max Valles (link via Caplan)
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Jevoni Robinson; CBs Randall Evans, Demontre Hurst, Dexter McDougle, David Rivers (Twitter links)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Matt Hazel; CBs Dexter McDougle, Cody Riggs (Twitter links)
New Orleans Saints
- LB Davis Tull (link via Nick Underhill of the Advocate)
Washington Redskins
- QB Stephen Morris; WRs Josh Huff, Daniel Williams; TEs Chris Bazile, Kent Taylor; Ts Josh James, Jeremiah Poutasi; DL Montori Hughes; LBs Carl Bradford, Cassanova McKinzy; CBs Senquez Golson, Jarnor Jones; S Rickey Jefferson, Jadar Johnson, Dean Marlowe; LSs Andrew East, Jeff Overbaugh (all Twitter links)
NFL Workout Updates: 11/28/17
Here are today’s workout updates, courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer unless otherwise noted.
Chicago Bears
- WR Mekale McKay, WR Canaan Severin, WR Rodney Smith (Twitter link)
Cleveland Browns
- LB Lavar Edwards, LB Jayrone Elliott, LB Marcus Rush, DE Devin Taylor (Twitter link)
Detroit Lions
- WR Eric Rogers, WR Daikiel Shorts
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
- DT Mike Purcell (Twitter link)
New York Jets
- DL Marcus Hardison
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Kenneth Olugbode, TE Hayden Plinke, RB Jhurell Pressley, RB Brandon Radcliff (Twitter link)
Tennessee Titans
- DL Stefan Charles, DL Johnny Maxey
NFL Workout Updates: 11/21/17
Here’s the workout news from Tuesday.
Buffalo Bills
- DT Stefan Charles (per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
- LB Ben Boulware, LB Carl Bradford, LB Brooks Ellis, LS Derek Hart, WR Lucky Whitehead (per NFL reporter Howard Balzer, on Twitter)
New England Patriots
- LB Darnell Sankey, WR R.J. Shelton (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
New York Jets
- CB Will Likely, TE Gabe Holmes, S Kelcie McCray, WR Eric Rogers (Twitter links via Wilson and ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan)