Chiefs Cut KR Tremon Smith
The Chiefs have moved on from a former draft pick. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that Kansas City has cut special teamer Tremon Smith. The team will be promoting receiver Byron Pringle from the practice squad to take the open roster spot.
Smith, a 2018 sixth-round pick, broke onto the scene as a rookie after earning NFL All-Rookie Team honors as a return man. He ultimately finished the 2018 season having returned 33 kicks for 886 yards (26.8-yard average). However, he played sparingly on defense, compiling only five tackles and one pass defended in 14 games. The Chiefs also briefly experimented with him at running back during the preseason.
With the Chiefs in need of receivers following the injury to Tyreek Hill, it made sense to move on from Smith, although there’s a good chance the 23-year-old could land on Kansas City’s practice squad. For the time being, the Chiefs will likely turn to Pringle and De’Anthony Thomas for return duties.
Pringle, 25, joined the Chiefs in 2018 as an undrafted rookie out of Kansas State. He made his NFL debut in Kansas City’s season-opener, but he was let go earlier this week to make room for Thomas, who returned from suspension.
Redskins To Move Derrius Guice To IR
For a second straight season, Derrius Guice will land on IR. The Redskins will go in this direction again with their starting running back, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets.
Guice underwent knee surgery earlier this week, J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington notes. The Redskins plan on using one of their IR-return slots on Guice, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adding this injury was expected to shelve the 2018 second-rounder for 4-6 weeks (Twitter links).
Washington will not be able to redeploy Guice until Week 11. His best hope for the first two years of his NFL career will be playing in eight games. The LSU product missed all of the 2018 season due to a knee injury. While this latest setback damaged his other knee, it will still cap his season at eight games.
It took Guice most of this offseason to recover from the initial knee injury. He experienced multiple setbacks in that recovery. He will be eligible to practice again after six weeks. During that span, the Redskins look likely to reform their 2018 backfield duo of Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson. Peterson was a healthy scratch in Week 1, but after eclipsing 1,000 yards in 2018, the 34-year-old back looks set to play a key role again. The Redskins also have Wendell Smallwood, whom they claimed off waivers from the Eagles earlier this month.
The Redskins will also place defensive lineman Caleb Brantley on IR, per Keim.
Dolphins To Place T Julien Davenport On IR
The Dolphins will have to make another new plan at tackle. The injury trade acquisition Julien Davenport suffered will send him to IR, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports (on Twitter).
Davenport started in his first game since being acquired from the Texans. But this week in practice, Davenport suffered a hyperextended knee and small crack in his tibia. This is set to force the recent fourth-round pick to miss several weeks. He will now be unable to return until at least Week 10.
Miami used Davenport as its first-string right tackle in its 59-10 Week 1 loss, with guard-turned-tackle Jesse Davis making another position switch in moving from right to to left tackle. The Dolphins recently signed veteran J’Marcus Webb. He and rookie sixth-rounder Isaiah Prince represent Miami’s options at right tackle during Davenport’s absence.
Acquired in the Laremy Tunsil trade, Davenport had already made 19 career starts in Houston before lining up with Miami’s first-stringers Sunday. Webb has started 65 games; he’s been on five teams in the past five seasons.
Raiders Place Johnathan Abram On IR
The Raiders’ Thursday defensive back tryout will lead to a roster move. Former Jets cornerback Juston Burris will sign with the Raiders, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets.
Burris will take Johnathan Abram‘s roster spot. The Raiders are placing the third of their three 2019 first-round picks on IR. Abram suffered a shoulder injury Monday night that is expected to end his season. Abram could come back after eight weeks on IR, but based on the current information, that seems unlikely.
A fourth-round Jets pick in 2016, Burris played in 34 Jets games from 2016-18. He spent time with the Browns last season. Burris may profile as Gareon Conley insurance, but the Raiders expect him to play Sunday despite the scary neck injury he suffered against the Broncos. Conley took part in limited practices Wednesday and Thursday.
Abram’s absence may bring the Raiders to move free agent addition Lamarcus Joyner back to safety. Joyner has spent his initial Raider months as their slot corner but worked as a safety with the Rams over the past two seasons.
Dolphins Re-Sign Tank Carradine
In a series of corresponding moves, the Dolphins announced earlier this morning that they had signed defensive end Tank Carradine and placed defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter on injured reserve.
Carradine was part of the Dolphins’ final cuts back in August after he started three of four preseason games and registered only a single tackle. The former 49ers 2013 second-round draft pick has failed to live up to his draft status thus far, totaling 77 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 45 career games. Since Carradine was released before Week 1, the Dolphins were not required to guarantee his salary of $880K for the 2019 season.
Ledbetter, an undrafted free agent from Georgia, signed with the Dolphins back in May, and started for the organization in last week’s ugly loss against the Ravens. Ledbetter played well in the contest, however, making four tackles and registering half a sack, while playing 66% of the team’s defensive snaps.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/12/19
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Claimed off waivers: TE J.P. Holtz
- Waived: DL Abdullah Anderson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Nick Brossette
- Released: RB David Williams
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Nate Meadors
- Released from injured reserve: DE Ade Aruna
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/12/19
Today’s practice squad updates:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Nate Becker
- Released: LB Nate Hall
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Abdullah Anderson
- Released: LB James Vaughters
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: G Colby Gossett
- Released: CB Donnie Lewis
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: G Ben Braden
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Cornell Armstrong
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Terry Godwin
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Brandon Dillon, WR Alexander Hollins
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Obi Melifonwu
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Mitchell Loewen
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Ajene Harris
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Parry Nickerson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Dalyn Dawkins
- Placed on injured list: QB Logan Woodside
Washington Redskins
- Signed: TE Donald Parham
Vikings Place Josh Doctson On IR
This could be a wrap on Josh Doctson‘s time with the Vikings. On Thursday, the Vikings placed the wide receiver on injured reserve.
[RELATED: Vikings Sign Josh Doctson]
The good news is that Doctson could heal up from his leg injury in time to return later this season. Of course, even if he does bounce back, it’s not a given that he’ll be activated during the season. Per league rules, teams can only bring two players back from IR each season. If there are more central players in the IR-DTR mix, Doctson could be left behind.
Doctson joined the Vikings last week after being cut by the Redskins at the end of August. He was inactive for last week’s win over Atlanta, so he may never get the chance to take the field for Minnesota.
Without Doctson, the Vikings’ WR group consists of Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Chad Beebe, and Olabisi Johnson. They will likely add a fifth WR this week.
Jets’ Sam Darnold Won’t Play Vs. Browns
When the Jets take on the Browns on Monday night, they’ll be without starting quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold will be held out as he recovers from mononucleosis, head coach Adam Gase announced. 
Darnold was held out of Wednesday’s practice this week with an undisclosed and previously undiagnosed illness. The illness was a bit more serious than first thought and, according to Gase, Darnold has lost a significant amount of weight as a result. It’s possible that Darnold will miss additional time, but the team should have a better read on his condition next week.
Without Darnold, the Jets will turn to Trevor Siemian as their Week 2 starter. To back him up, the club has promoted QB Luke Falk from the practice squad.
Siemian, 27, fared reasonably well as the 2016 Broncos’ starter, leading the team to a 9-7 record and throwing 18 touchdown passes against ten interceptions. In 2017, he rated as one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks, prompting the Broncos to change course. The Jets inked him to a one-year deal this offseason to serve as Darnold’s safety net and he’ll be thrust into action as the club looks to reach .500.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/11/19
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Dax Raymond
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB LaRoy Reynolds
- Released from IR via injury settlement: QB Jeff Driskel
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Kyle Kalis
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR River Cracraft
- Placed on IR: WR Tim Patrick
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB David Williams
- Waived: QB Chad Kanoff
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: S Rolan Milligan
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Ahmad Thomas
New York Giants
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Alex Wesley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Craig James
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Richard Rodgers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DL Jeremiah Ledbetter