Bengals Waive 11 Players
The Bengals have taken a considerable step towards reaching the 53-man max on Saturday by waiving the following eleven players:
- LB Curtis Akins
- C Kirk Barron
- S Demetrious Cox
- LS Dan Godsil
- CB Tony Lippett
- DT Dare Odeyingbo
- DT Christian Ringo (injury settlement)
- LB Sterling Sheffield
- DE Immanuel Turner
- K Tristan Vizcaino
- G Christian Westerman
Lippett, one of the more recognizable names on the list, hooked on with the Bengals exactly 30 days ago. The former second-round pick offered familiarity with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in the fold.
Lions Cut CB Teez Tabor
Teez Tabor‘s time in Detroit has come to an end. On Friday, the Lions released the 2017 second-round pick, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Tabor fell to the Lions at No. 53 overall two years back, but some draft analysts, like NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, were much higher on him. The Florida product suffered a hamstring injury during his workout with Detroit and was unable to audition for other teams, leading to his drop.
In the pros, Tabor hasn’t measured up. To date, the 23-year-old has made just five total starts. For his career (22 games), he has 39 total tackles and no interceptions.
Raiders Cut LB Brandon Marshall
The Raiders have released linebacker Brandon Marshall, according to PFT’s Mike Florio (on Twitter). Marshall joined the Raiders in late March, but could not make the cut.
Marshall, who compiled 102 tackles and three sacks in 2017, was supposed to boost a linebacker group that also added Vontaze Burfict on a low-cost deal. For one reason or another, he couldn’t stick.
Marshall battled through injuries during the 2018 season and appeared in just eleven games. He finished out the campaign with only 42 tackles, his lowest total since he became a starter during the 2014 season.
Still, the former fifth-rounder has shown that he can be a difference maker when he’s at full strength – Marshall finished with at least 100 tackles in each of his three healthiest seasons.
Bills Trade C Russell Bodine To Patriots
The Patriots can’t stop trading. On Friday, they acquired center Russell Bodine from the Bills in exchange for a sixth-round pick, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). 
Specifically, the Patriots have been trading for offensive linemen all week long. This marks the third OL acquired by the Pats in trades in the past few days.
The Patriots’ offensive line depth has been hit hard in the wake of injuries to David Andrews and Hjalte Froholdt. Bodine can offer help on the interior, along with fellow new OLs Korey Cunningham and Jermaine Eluemunor.
For the Bills, it’s a low-cost acquisition of a late-round draft choice. They liked Bodine, but his presence was not required given the recovery of center Mitch Morse.
Broncos To Release Su’a Cravens
The Broncos have released safety Su’a Cravens, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). With a strong secondary, Cravens has been facing an uphill battle to make Denver’s 53-man cut. 
While Denver’s previous regime saw Cravens as a dime linebacker, new head coach Vic Fangio told Cravens that he would have to make the roster as a pure safety. That proved to be a huge hurdle for Cravens, who has struggled in coverage.
Cravens was traded to the Broncos last year after spending his first two years in the league with the Redskins. A second-round pick in 2016, he quickly had a falling out with the organization. After injuries, retirement, and un-retirement, he was hoping to take his coat off and stay a while with the Broncos.
Things didn’t pan out that way, and he’s now seeking new employment with days to go before kickoff.
Panthers Cut QB Taylor Heinicke
The Panthers have released quarterback Taylor Heinicke, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). With that, the Panthers will move forward with Kyle Allen as the backup and rookie Will Grier as the backups to starter Cam Newton.
The Panthers brought Heinicke, a former UDFA, in off of waivers from the Texans last year. He wound up making one start, though he finished out the year with one touchdown pass and three interceptions. Near the end, they turned to Allen after Heinicke suffered an elbow injury.
Heinicke, 26, will now look to hook on elsewhere and make the second start of his NFL career.
Patriots’ Josh Gordon Cleared For Week One
Great news for Patriots fans and nervous fantasy football players – Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon has been cleared to play for Week One by the league office, per an NFL announcement. 
Previously, Gordon received a conditional reinstatement from NFL HQ, granting him permission to play if he satisfied certain terms. Gordon, apparently, has met the requirements, and he has received the green light for the start of the 2019 season.
Gordon appeared in 11 games for the Patriots last year, catching 40 passes for 720 yards and and three touchdowns. Late in the year, he suddenly revealed he was stepping away from the team, and not long after it was announced that he was being slapped with an indefinite ban.
Despite the many hiccups in his career, Gordon continues to hold serious promise. If he stays on the right track, Gordon could be primed for a massive year in New England.
Texans To Place QB Joe Webb On IR
The Texans plan to place quarterback Joe Webb on injured reserve, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Webb was carted off the field with a foot injury on Thursday night against the Rams and further testing confirmed that it was a serious malady.
Webb completed 65% of his passes in the exhibition game and was in line to back up Deshaun Watson. On the plus side, QB A.J. McCarron is ready to roll after injuring his thumb early in camp, so the Texans are likely set under center.
Webb, who has carved out a career with quarterback, wide receiver, and special teams skills, may or may not try to extend his career in 2020. He’ll turn 33 in November and celebrate his 34th birthday during the 2020 campaign.
Ravens Cut K Elliott Fry
The Ravens released kicker Elliott Fry, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Fry sank a 48-yard field goal in preseason action on Thursday night, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in Baltimore.
Fry now becomes one of the best available kickers in the NFL and an intriguing option for teams sifting through the waiver wire. The Jets, for instance, have No. 3 priority and could be among the interested clubs.
Fry spent most of the offseason fighting for the Bears’ job, but the team dropped him in favor of Eddy Pineiro. In Baltimore, they’ll stick with Justin Tucker, as was expected.
Patriots Trade CB Duke Dawson To Broncos
The Patriots have traded cornerback Duke Dawson to the Broncos, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The two sides will exchange late-round picks in the deal, with the Patriots receiving a sixth-rounder and the Broncos getting a 2020 seventh-rounder.
The Patriots were forced to Dawson on IR last season due to a hamstring injury. He was later designated for return, but never made it back on to the field.
Prior to all of that, Dawson was in the mix to become New England’s slot cornerback early in camp in 2018. This year, he seemed to have a shot at a steady role, but things did not pan out. Instead, the Broncos will acquire the 2018 second-round selection for pennies on the dollar.