Colts Cut Jalen Collins
The Colts have released former Falcons second-round pick Jalen Collins from the practice squad, per a team announcement. To fill his spot, they’ve signed cornerback Shakial Taylor. 
Collins joined the Colts’ practice squad on September 1 after he missed the 53-man cut in late August. In the previous year, he moved between the Colts’ p-squad and active roster, but did not see live action. For his career, he has played in 24 games (all for the Falcons) with 43 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, ten passes defensed, and with a pair of ten-game bans for PEDs.
Taylor, a 5’11” corner, first joined the Colts as a UDFA in May of 2019. While at Kansas for his final two collegiate seasons, he tallied 55 tackles, one tackle for a loss, and three picks, including one returned for a touchdown.
The Colts presently carry two corners on their practice squad between Taylor and Deante Burton.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/30/19
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DE Abdullah Anderson
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: S Kavon Frazier
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers: DE Chris Peace (from Chargers)
Eagles Trade Johnathan Cyprien To Falcons
The Eagles have traded safety Johnathan Cyprien and a seventh-round pick to the Falcons, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In exchange, Atlanta will send linebacker Duke Riley and a sixth-round choice to Philadelphia. 
It’s a not-so-minor deal that addresses areas of need for two different contenders. The Eagles are now a bit better off in the front seven while the Falcons’ secondary has been somewhat fortified, with a small step down late in the draft for the Eagles.
Riley does his best work at weakside linebacker, where he makes an impact despite his less-than-ideal size. With Philly, he’ll fill the shoes of L.J. Fort, who has moved on to the Ravens. Meanwhile, Cyprien will help round out a Falcons safety group that is now without standout Keanu Neal.
Cyprien visited the Eagles in June, but did not join the club until August. This year, he’s been itching to show what he can do after missing the 2018 season with a torn ACL, but hasn’t been given much of an opportunity. A four-year starter with the Jaguars, and a ten-game starter with the Titans in 2017, Cyprien is still only 29 and capable of delivering big hits in the middle of the field.
Riley, 25, has also dealt with the injury bug. His 2017 rookie season was halted in October by a torn meniscus, though he has been on the field for every possible regular season game since then. Last year, Riley started ten times and amassed 60 total tackles.
The Eagles (2-2) and Falcons (1-3) already played their one matchup of the year on September 15, so Riley and Cyprien won’t cross paths until at least the playoffs, if the two teams happen to qualify and match up. By then, Cyprien could be in new threads – he’ll be out of contract in March. Riley, meanwhile, will be under Eagles control through 2020 on the final year of his rookie deal.
Cardinals To Release S D.J. Swearinger
After using their top waiver position on D.J. Swearinger late last season, the Cardinals are releasing the veteran safety, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Unlike last season, when the vested veteran landed on waivers due to being cut after the trade deadline, Swearinger will go straight to free agency. Swearinger has started all four Cardinals games this season, so this move comes as a bit of a surprise.
Washington waived Swearinger in December after his critical comments of the team’s coaching staff. The Cards picked up his contract, a three-year, $13.5MM deal. That pact was set to expire after the 2019 season. The former Texans second-round pick is only in his age-28 season. He has gone through two stints with the Cardinals, having initially played for Arizona from 2015-16.
After viewing Swearinger as one of the NFL’s better safeties from 2016-18, Pro Football Focus has slotted the seventh-year veteran as its No. 73 safety through four Arizona games. He played on 100% of the Cards’ snaps. Rookie Deionte Thompson has only seen 27 snaps; that figure is likely to increase beginning in Week 5. The Cardinals also used a fifth-round supplemental draft pick on Washington State’s Jalen Thompson and signed Chris Banjo last week.
Giants’ Ryan Connelly Done For Year
It’s official. Doctors have confirmed that Giants linebacker Ryan Connelly is done for the year after suffering a torn ACL. 
The Giants will place Connelly on injured reserve, which will formally end his 2019 campaign and open up another spot on the 53-man roster. It’s a bad blow for the G-Men, who also have fellow ‘backers Alec Ogletree and Tae Davis dealing with injuries.
Connelly, a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, notched his first career interception against the Bucs in the club’s Week 3 victory and doubled up with another pick against the Redskins on Sunday. He seemed ticketed for more big moments in the final 12 games of the season – instead, his rookie campaign will end after four games, 20 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and one sack.
The Giants are riding high behind the play of rookie Daniel Jones, who has taken over for Eli Manning and has the club at 2-2. However, their two-game winning streak is now in jeopardy thanks to injuries to Connelly and other key defenders. They’ll try their luck against the Vikings at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
Texans To Sign Mike Adams
The Texans will sign safety Mike Adams, according to Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). The veteran will now join the sixth team of his career in a quest to shore the Texans’ secondary. 
Adams has appeared in 222 NFL games to date, with his most recent contests coming with the Panthers. If he plays in two more games, he’ll knot John Lynch and Brian Dawkins for the next spot on the NFL’s all-time list for safeties.
Adams did not find a home in the offseason, but he beat the September buzzer to suit up for a 16th NFL campaign. He’ll have an opportunity to eclipse 1,000 career tackles (currently 946) and add to his resume of 30 interceptions and 13 forced fumbles.
For now, Adams looks to be a supporting option behind starters Justin Reid and Tashaun Gipson.
Ravens Sign LB L.J. Fort
The Ravens have signed linebacker L.J. Fort, according to a club announcement. The team met with Fort on Saturday and inked him to a deal less than 24 hours after their poor defensive showing against the Browns. 
Fort spent 2015-2018 with the Steelers, so the Ravens are plenty familiar with what he has to offer. This year, he signed a three-year, $5.5MM deal with the Eagles, but he was displaced after Avonte Maddox‘s injury necessitated the signing of veteran Orlando Scandrick.
The Eagles were thought to be eyeing a quick reunion, but the Ravens have spoiled those plans. The Ravens placed ‘backer Otaro Alaka on IR on Saturday, so Fort will be brought in to fortify the LB group. With Alaka off the 53-man roster, the club will not have to make a corresponding move for his arrival.
Fort earned solid grades for his work with the Steelers, per PFF’s advanced metrics. He’ll be eligible to play against his former squad on Sunday when Baltimore travels to Pittsburgh.
Chargers TE Sean Culkin Tears Achilles
The Chargers’ depth took yet another blow during their win over the Dolphins on Sunday. After the game, head coach Anthony Lynn announced that tight end Sean Culkin had torn his Achilles.
Obviously, he’ll miss the rest of the season. Due to injuries Culkin had been thrust into a pretty big role, playing 58 percent of the team’s offensive snaps last week against Houston. He had one catch for 12 yards against the Dolphins before going down. Culkin originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri back in 2017. With Culkin out for the year, the Chargers’ tight ends room is now extremely thin.
Starter Hunter Henry is still at least a couple of weeks away with his knee injury, and normal backup Virgil Green missed the Miami game with a groin injury. Los Angeles recently signed veteran Lance Kendricks, and he’s now the only healthy tight end on the roster. Naturally, people will start buzzing about Antonio Gates, but the Chargers have resisted any talk of a reunion up to this point.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/28/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Detroit Lions:
- Signed: WR Travis Fulgham
- Released: DT Frank Herron
Seattle Seahawks:
- Signed: DT Bryan Mone
- Released: OT Elijah Nkansah
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/19
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: P Ryan Winslow
- Waived: TE Darrell Daniels
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Tom Kennedy
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Davion Davis
- Waived: CB Nate Meadors