Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/22
Teams have until 3pm Tuesday to slash their rosters from 80 to 53 players. Here are the Monday moves teams are making en route to doing so. The list will be updated throughout the day.
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: CB Jace Whittaker, S James Wiggins
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Darrell Baker
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: C Jimmy Murray
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: OL Jacob Capra, DE Daniel Joseph, DB Jordan Miller, OL Tanner Owen, WR Neil Pau’u, DB Josh Thomas
Chicago Bears
- Waived: S Jon Alexander, C Corey Dublin, WR Kevin Shaa
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: DE Chris Odom (story)
- Released: WR Javon Wims
- Waived: WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, DT Glen Logan, S Jovante Moffatt, T Ben Petrula, DE Curtis Weaver
Denver Broncos
- Waived: CB Bless Austin, LB Jeremiah Gemmel, OL Sebastian Gutierrez, RB JaQuan Hardy
- Waived/injured: CB Donnie Lewis
Detroit Lions
- Released: QB Tim Boyle
- Waived: CB Mark Gilbert, WR Tom Kennedy, WR Kalil Pimpleton, CB Saivion Smith
Houston Texans
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Chester Rogers
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: QB Jack Coan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: S Rudy Ford, K.C. McDermott
- Waived: LB Tyrell Adams, DL Auzoyah Alufohai, RB Ryquell Armstead, CB Benjie Franklin, DB Brandon Rusnak, LB Chapelle Russell, OL Badara Traore
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Emeke Egbule, TE Sage Surratt
Miami Dolphins
- Released: OL Adam Pankey
- Waived: OL Blaise Andries, DL Owen Carney Jr., RB Gerrid Doaks, CB Elijah Hamilton, LB Darius Hodge, DT Niles Scott, RB ZaQuandre White, CB Quincy Wilson
- Placed on IR: LB Calvin Munson
- Waived/injured: CB D’Angelo Ross
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: CB Tye Smith
- Placed on IR: WR Olabisi Johnson (story), DL T.Y. McGill
- Waived: WR Myron Mitchell, T Timon Parris
New York Giants
- Waived: DB Yusuf Corker, WR Keelan Doss, DB Olaijah Griffin, OL Josh Rivas, K Ryan Santoso, OL Eric Smith, WR Travis Toivonen
New York Jets
- Waived: DE Bradlee Anae, WR Irvin Charles, CB Javelin Guidry, WR Calvin Jackson Jr., RB La’Mical Perine, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, QB Chris Streveler
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: CB Josh Blackwell, QB Carson Strong, OL Cameron Tom, DT Renell Wren
- Waived/injured: WR Greg Ward
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: DL Ron’Dell Carter, CB Linden Stephens, TE Jace Sternberger
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: CB Ken Crawley
- Waived: OL Dohnovan West
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Andre Anthony, WR Jerreth Sterns
Tennessee Titans
- Released: S Adrian Colbert
- Waived: S Tyree Gillespie, OL Willie Wright
Washington Commanders
- Waived: DT Tyler Clark, DE Jacub Panasiuk, DB Steven Parker
49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo Agree To Restructure; QB To Stay In San Francisco
In an 11th-hour twist, the 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo are planning to continue their partnership. The parties agreed to a restructured contract that is expected to keep the two-time NFC championship game starter in San Francisco, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
This one-year deal includes a no-trade clause and a no-franchise tag clause, Schefter adds. Garoppolo will remain a 2023 free agent-to-be. This adjusted deal will be worth $6.5MM in fully guaranteed base salary, per Schefter, who adds playing-time bonuses could add another $9MM to the accord (Twitter link). The 49ers, who had given Garoppolo’s camp permission to negotiate his contract with other teams months ago, had been working with the veteran passer since last week on this pay cut, Schefter tweets.
Monday’s compromise will both provide the 49ers with Trey Lance insurance and ensure Garoppolo collects a decent 2022 sum. While this is nowhere close to the $24.2MM base salary his 2018 extension was set to pay him, keeping that number on the books was never in the cards for the 49ers. A Garoppolo release may well have led to a payment shy of this $6.5MM salary as well. This new contract also includes $500K in roster bonuses. In total, Garoppolo’s 2022 compensation package maxes out at $15.45MM, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. The path toward cashing in all those incentives is likely tied to Lance.
For the 49ers’ payroll, Garoppolo will now come in well below the $26.95MM cap figure to which he was previously tethered. The ninth-year quarterback is now expected to count around $8.5MM on San Francisco’s cap sheet, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. This is an interesting solution for the 49ers, who have moved up beyond $20MM in cap space after entering Monday ranking 32nd in available funds.
Garoppolo’s base salary would have become guaranteed just before the 49ers’ Week 1 game. The 49ers were never going to allow that guarantee to vest, but they had tried to trade their four-plus-year starter throughout the offseason. Garoppolo was most closely linked to the Seahawks (in the event of a 49ers release) and Browns as a Deshaun Watson stopgap. Cleveland is sticking with Jacoby Brissett, while Seattle’s Geno Smith path is for real now. It is possible those teams could circle back to Garoppolo before the trade deadline, but he would now have to approve any trade. Garoppolo had a no-trade clause last year, but his contract did not previously include one for 2022.
The fifth-year 49ers passer underwent shoulder surgery in March, sidetracking his trade market, but is believed to have recovered. Garoppolo, 30, has been throwing for weeks now. He can now resume practicing with his teammates. How this affects Lance, whom the 49ers have repeatedly endorsed as their 2022 starter, will be fascinating. Lance’s QB1 predecessor had interest in being released, per Chris Mortensen, but circled back to San Francisco due to this being his best chance for success (Twitter link).
Although the 49ers traded two future first-round picks to move up for the North Dakota State prospect last year, Lance has thrown fewer than 400 passes in games since his senior year of high school. After dominating for the Division I-FCS superpower as a redshirt freshman in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic nixed the 2020 FCS season. Lance played in the Bison’s one 2020 game and declared for the 2021 draft. Garoppolo suffered a calf injury during the first half of last season, bringing in Lance for a spot start, but Kyle Shanahan reinstalled his veteran starter. Lance did not threaten Garoppolo’s status the rest of the way, and the 49ers rallied to their second NFC title game in three seasons. Lance spent his rookie year battling a finger injury, but he has recovered and made strides during his second pro offseason.
While Garoppolo has been frequently maligned during his Bay Area tenure, he is well-liked by his teammates and has posted top-15 QBR figures in his past two healthy seasons (2019, 2021). Last season was not exactly a healthy Garoppolo season; the former Patriots backup ran into a thumb issue late in the season but played through it. Lance was acquired to be an upgrade, however, and likely will remain the team’s preferred 2022 option. But instead of Garoppolo trying his hand with the Seahawks or Browns, he will remain a 49er for the time being.
This could also buy the 49ers more time with Garoppolo, with his salary more manageable as a trade chip now. If Lance impresses early, Garoppolo would reside as a trade attraction for a team in need. An early-season injury affecting a team that does not currently possess a QB need would increase San Francisco’s bargaining position as well. The no-trade clause will also protect Garoppolo from being sent to an undesired location, helping explain the decision to dramatically reduce his salary.
Lions To Release LB Jarrad Davis
Another, somewhat surprising name has emerged amongst today’s roster cuts. The Lions are releasing linebacker Jarrad Davis, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter). 
Davis was a first-round pick of the Lions in 2017. He was an immediate starter in Detroit, reaching the 100-tackle mark in his second season. Things changed dramatically during the final season of his rookie contract, however, as he saw his playing time diminish considerably.
With the Lions having declined Davis’ fifth-year option, the 27-year-old admitted to considering retirement before ultimately signing with the Jets. His one-year stay in New York was limited to just nine games, and resulted in only 25 tackles. Not surprisingly, then, he found himself back on the free agent market this spring.
That led to a reunion in Detroit for the Florida alum, allowing him to join a relatively unproven LB corps. He likely would have been in line for at least a depth role in the middle of the team’s defense, one which is expected to take a significant step forward in 2022. Instead, the Lions will move forward with the likes of Alex Anzalone, Josh Woods, Derrick Barnes and Chris Board as inside ‘backers.
Back on the open market, Davis will now join veterans such as Joe Schobert and Danny Trevathan looking for new NFL homes. He will likely be facing another one-year deal, similar to last season, though he will surely be unable to match the $5.5MM value of his Jets deal from 2021.
Jaguars To Trade WR Laviska Shenault To Panthers
The Panthers are adding a former second-round pick to their receiver stable. The Jaguars are sending Laviska Shenault to the NFC South squad, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Jaguars will receive a 2023 seventh-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round pick, per Joe Person of The Athletic (on Twitter).
Shenault, whom the Jags took in the 2020 second round, has shown flashes in Jacksonville, doing so as the team keeps changing its offense. He will have another chance to make an impression in Carolina. The Panthers have been looking for more receiving help, despite rostering D.J. Moore, Robbie Anderson and 2021 second-round pick Terrace Marshall. Two seasons remain on Shenault’s rookie deal.
Carolina had been connected to disgruntled Jets wideout Denzel Mims, who was also a 2020 second-round pick. Mims’ Matt Rhule past seemingly made him a logical Panthers fit, but Carolina is pivoting in a different direction.
Once viewed as a possible first-rounder, Shenault — chosen 42nd overall two years ago — battled injuries at Colorado but still attracted the Jags’ attention during their final Dave Caldwell–Doug Marrone draft. The team has since changed offensive schemes twice since that draft, adding to the degree of difficulty for the young wideout. Add a fourth scheme in three years for Shenault, who will transition to Ben McAdoo‘s offense. This Panthers offense should not be entirely unfamiliar for Shenault; McAdoo was Jacksonville’s quarterbacks coach in 2020.
Still, Shenault has topped 600 receiving yards in each of his two Jags seasons and has been used sparingly in the backfield. The 227-pound receiver’s top two yardage outputs have come against the Bengals — in 2020 and ’21, the latter a 99-yard night in a narrow loss that became more relevant because of Urban Meyer‘s postgame decisions — but he operated as an auxiliary option for Gardner Minshew and Trevor Lawrence. The Jags, however, added multiple receivers this offseason. They gave Christian Kirk an $18MM-per-year deal and added Zay Jones for $8MM per soon after. The team still rosters veteran Marvin Jones as well.
Marshall has missed time due to a training camp injury, though he did play in Carolina’s preseason finale. The Panthers have moved on from OC Joe Brady, who coached Marshall at LSU, and the ex-Justin Jefferson/Ja’Marr Chase supporting caster struggled as a rookie. Carolina also has ex-Baker Mayfield Cleveland target Rashard Higgins and Shi Smith at receiver. Shenault’s arrival further complicates matters for Marshall, but it will give Mayfield another intriguing option.
Ravens To Release S Tony Jefferson
The Ravens have begun their final roster cuts, and a notable veteran is among them. Safety Tony Jefferson is being released, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 
The safety position has seen plenty of turnover this offseason in Baltimore; Marcus Williams was the team’s top free agent signing, and the Ravens used the first of their two Day 1 selections on Kyle Hamilton in the draft. Those two, along with incumbent Chuck Clark, left Jefferson a narrow path to an initial roster spot.
Jefferson, 30, opened his career with the Cardinals, putting up consistent numbers while taking on a larger snap share with each passing year. That led him to Baltimore in free agency, where was a full-time starter until the midway point of the 2019 campaign. A knee injury left him sidelined him for the entire 2020 season, and led to four surgeries being required. He returned to Baltimore late this past year.
As a vested veteran, the Oklahoma product is not subject to waivers, and could sign anywhere in free agency. However, as has been the case with a number of respected veterans recently, the Ravens are likely to bring Jefferson back in the next day of so. Per Jeff Zrebiec of the Athletic (subscription required), Baltimore could simply wait until tomorrow’s necessary paper transactions (such as transferring injured players from the 53-man squad to IR) until re-signing him.
Assuming that takes place, Jefferson will be able to demonstrate his new-found health while competing with a number of younger options for a depth role on the team’s backend. If he remains willing to sign with the team on a handshake agreement, he could also be a practice squad candidate throughout the campaign, one in which the Ravens once again have high expectations on both sides of the ball.
Dolphins Release RB Sony Michel
Rumored to be on Miami’s roster bubble, Sony Michel did not make the team. The Dolphins released the veteran running back Monday.
A former Patriots first-round pick, Michel has two Super Bowl rings. He led both teams — the 2018 Patriots and 2021 Rams — in rushing, most recently amassing 845 yards last season in Los Angeles. But the Dolphins are moving on, leaving Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert and Myles Gaskin as their top backs.
Michel’s arrival was viewed as a threat to Gaskin, who saw the team bring in a few notable backs this offseason. But Michel is back in free agency, moving past waivers due to vested-veteran status. The Saints were interested in Michel earlier this offseason, but he opted to sign with the Dolphins. This cut comes after Miami fully guaranteed Michel $850K. The team will still save close to $1MM with this transaction.
Despite a run of injuries as a Patriot, Michel played in all 21 Rams games last season. The Rams moved to Michel via trade after Cam Akers‘ July 2021 Achilles tear, and the former became a reliable contributor. The Georgia product posted two 120-plus-yard rushing games during the season’s second half, which featured Darrell Henderson also miss time because of injury, and eclipsed 70 rushing yards in five straight games from Weeks 12-16 last season. Akers return led Michel to a backup role for most of L.A.’s postseason, which did not feature much in the way of Akers production.
Michel, whose six rushing touchdowns in the 2018 playoffs sit in a tie for second in a single postseason (behind only Terrell Davis‘ eight in 1997), should have options post-Miami. But running backs — especially those whose skillsets do not include proven pass-catching ability — often struggle to find work after their rookie deals expire. It will be interesting to see where the fifth-year runner, who has not been used as a pass-catching option much, ends up.
Gaskin could profile as Mostert insurance, given the latter’s run of injuries toward the end of his 49ers tenure. The Dolphins also have holdover Salvon Ahmed on the team, though they must slash their roster from 80 to 53 by 3pm CT Tuesday. The team has begun doing so, making several cuts. Gerrid Doaks, a former seventh-round running back pick, is among them.
Cardinals Release CB Josh Jackson; Team Eyeing More CB Help?
Josh Jackson‘s mid-offseason Cardinals signing will not lead to him being part of the team’s 53-man roster. To start the process of moving down to the 53-man limit, the Cards cut the veteran cornerback Monday.
While the Cardinals do not presently view Jackson as worthy of a regular-season roster spot, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes this transaction will likely precede the team making another addition — via trade or signing — at corner. It could be needed, with Arizona not doing much at the position since Jeff Gladney‘s tragic death in May.
Kliff Kingsbury said the Cardinals were likely to bring in corners, but their veteran search ended with Jackson. A former second-round Packers pick, Jackson has bounced around. Post-Green Bay, Jackson spent time with the Giants and Chiefs in 2021. He started 10 Packers games as a rookie but has only made five starts in the three seasons since. Jackson played in just two games last season.
Veteran outside corners Joe Haden, Jackrabbit Jenkins, Xavier Rhodes, A.J. Bouye and ex-Jackson Green Bay teammate Kevin King are available. Former Cardinal Robert Alford, who met with the team about another deal this offseason, also is unsigned. The Cardinals have Byron Murphy in place as their top corner but feature extensive questions beyond him.
Arizona also released veteran linebacker/special-teamer Joe Walker and offensive lineman Koda Martin on Monday. A former Eagles draftee, Walker started 11 games with the Cards in 2019 and has been with the team for two stints. After signing with the 49ers in 2020, Walker found his way back to Arizona last season and re-signed via reserve/futures deal this year as well. The 29-year-old defender played just 7% of the team’s defensive snaps in 2021 but logged 80% of its special teams plays.
Jaguars To Release WR Laquon Treadwell
A notable name has surfaced with respect to the Jaguars’ final roster cuts. The team is moving on from receiver Laquon Treadwell, as detailed by a ProFootballNetwork.com report. 
The 2016 first-rounder never lived up to his draft stock with the Vikings; his most productive campaign came in 2018, when he made 35 catches for 302 yards. Given his underwhelming numbers, it came as little surprise when he moved on to Atlanta in free agency the following offseason. That led to an equally underwhelming year, however, leaving expectations low for his inaugural Jacksonville season.
Matching his career high in starts (seven), the Ole Miss alum also set a new personal mark with 434 yards on 33 receptions, leading to an impressive 13.2 yard average. That represented one of the few bright spots for the Jaguars last season, and earned Treadwell a one-year deal in March. He lost out a camp/preseason battle for the team’s last receiver spots, however, leading to his release.
Jacksonville actively made additions to their pass-catching corps this offseason, including free agent deals to Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. They, along with returnees Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault, are in line to form the receiver nucleus for QB Trevor Lawrence. While that group has led (in part) to the optimism now surrounding the team, Treadwell will now need to find a new home as roster cuts continue. He could carry slightly more upside than other free agents given his age (27), but he will be hard-pressed to land anything more than a ‘prove-it’ contract at this point.
Dolphins To Release Mohamed Sanu
Mohamed Sanu‘s tenure in Miami has come to an end already. The Dolphins are releasing the veteran receiver, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
The 33-year-old signed with the team last month, looking to catch on as an experienced rotational player in the their new-look WR corps. The deal kept in line with his recent status as a journeyman; since being traded by the Falcons in 2019, Sanu has suited up for three different teams. He will need to add another name to that list, as he is back on the open market.
Sanu’s production has dropped off in recent years, though he has started 10 of the 26 games he appeared in since the end of his Falcons tenure. Nevertheless, he was destined for a backup job given Miami’s depth chart being topped by Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Cedrick Wilson.
By releasing Sanu, the Dolphins are also paving a way to notable playing time for fourth-round rookie Erik Ezukanma. The team still faces some other interesting decisions at the position, however; the talent at the top of the roster – along with the presence of tight end Mike Gesicki – might leave room for only one more wideout to survive final roster cuts. As a result, names like Preston Williams and Lynn Bowden Jr. were reported as being shopped for whatever trade return the team could get.
Neither Williams nor Bowden could be considered locks given this news, so they could soon join Sanu in free agency as well. The latter will now look to catch on elsewhere, as teams navigate their own bubble players, as well as those let go of elsewhere during this period.
Eagles To Release S Jaquiski Tartt
Jaquiski Tartt will not make the Eagles’ 53-man roster. The Eagles are moving on from their mid-offseason addition, Adam Caplan of InsidetheBirds.com tweets.
A longtime 49ers starting safety, Tartt had struggled to make an impression with the Eagles. Philadelphia is moving forward with Marcus Epps as its top safety, though a move to add another starter at the position may not be out of the question.
Although Tartt’s dropped interception in the NFC championship game proved pivotal in the 49ers’ loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Rams, he had started 64 games with the team from 2015-21. The 49ers chose him in the 2015 second round and, despite several injuries during his run alongside Jimmie Ward, kept him around.
Tartt, 30, signed a two-year, $13MM 49ers extension, but after a seven-game 2020 season, the Samford alum was brought back last year on a league-minimum deal last year. Tartt did spend three games on IR in 2021, but he returned to start the rest of the way in a 14-game season. Pro Football Focus, however, graded Tartt outside its top 70 at safety for the season, leading to a tepid market.
Philly re-signed Anthony Harris this offseason as well and has a few young safeties in the mix with Epps as well. The team will save $620K by making this move.