Minor NFL Transactions: 8/30/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here. Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to pare their rosters down to 53 players.
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DB Chris Banjo, DL Josh Mauro
- Waived: WR Andre Baccellia, CB Jace Whittaker, S James Wiggins
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Terrance Smith
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Jordan Phillips
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DT Eli Ankou, DL Zac Dawe, S Dwayne Johnson Jr., DE Kobe Jones, WR Chris Rowland, LB Tuzar Skipper
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: WR Deon Cain, WR Devin Gray, WR Siaosi Mariner
- Released: TE Eric Tomlinson
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB Tim Harris, WR Brandon Powell, RB Kerrith Whyte
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: G Mike Horton, S Jalen Julius, OL Aaron Monteiro
Cleveland Browns
- Released: WR JoJo Natson
- Waived: CB Brian Allen, TE Jordan Franks, OL Colby Gossett, DE Porter Gustin, QB Kyle Lauletta, DE Cameron Malveaux, TE Kyle Markway, S Jovante Moffatt, S Sheldrick Redwine, CB Manny Rugamba, LB Tegray Scales, DE Curtis Weaver, DT Marvin Wilson
- Placed on IR: OT Greg Senat
Chicago Bears
- Released: OL Adam Redmond
- Waived: TE Scooter Harrington
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: S Steven Parker
Denver Broncos
- Waived: TE Shaun Beyer, WR Tyrie Cleveland, TE Austin Fort, OT Drew Himmelman, WR Kendall Hinton, DE Isaiah Mack, CB Mac McCain, FB Adam Prentice, LB Curtis Robinson, QB Brett Rypien, OL Austin Schlottmann, RB Stevie Scott, CB Saivion Smith, LB Derrek Tuszka, WR Seth Williams
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden, DT Miles Brown, CB Mike Ford, OL Evan Heim, S Alijah Holder, WR Damion Ratley
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Laremy Tunsil
- Waived/injured: CB Cornell Armstrong, LB Tae Davis
- Waived: DB Shyheim Carter, OL Danny Isidora, TE Ryan Izzo, OL Carson Green, RB Buddy Howell
- Released: QB Jeff Driskel
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Ryan Kelly, WR Zach Pascal, QB Carson Wentz; the trio landed on the coronavirus list due to being high-risk close contacts, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Quenton Nelson
- Waived: CB Holton Hill, LB Isaiah Kaufusi
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: CB Corey Straughter
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Josh Allen
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: CB Zayne Anderson, WR Maurice Ffrench, RBDerrick Gore, DB Devon Key, RB Darwin Thompson, OL Darryl Williams
- Traded: OL Yasir Durant (to Patriots for 2022 seventh-round pick, per Herbie Teope of the KC Star on Twitter)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Darron Lee
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Jessie Lemonier
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: DB Brontae Harris, WR Jeremiah Haydel, G Jeremiah Kolone, G Jordan Meredith, DB Donovan Olumba, LB Troy Warner
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: S Nate Holley, WR Khalil McClain, DE Tyshun Render, TE Carl Tucker
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Robert Foster
New England Patriots
- Waived: S Adrian Colbert, DL Bill Murray, WR Tre Nixon
- Traded for: OL Yasir Durant (via Chiefs for 2022 seventh-round pick, per Herbie Teope of the KC Star on Twitter)
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: S Eric Burrell, OG Derrick Kelly, CB Natrell Jamerson, DL R.J. McIntosh, OL Christian Montano, LB Shaq Smith
New York Jets
- Waived: WR Lawrence Cager, S J.T. Hassell, CB Lamar Jackson, OL Corey Levin, Jeremiah Valoaga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: OL Ross Pierschbacher
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: WR Rico Bussey, LS Kameron Canaday, LB Jamar Watson
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: TE Ian Bunting, WR Darece Roberson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Joseph Jones, DT Kobe Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Nate Davis
- Waived/injured: OL Chandon Herring
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Brent Qvale (story)
Washington Football Team
- Waived: WR Tony Brown, S Cole Luke, CB Linden Stephens, WR Isaiah Wright
- Released: DT Devaroe Lawrence, LB Joe Walker
Ravens Activate Nick Boyle From PUP List
The Ravens have dealt with some tough injury breaks recently, most notably to running back J.K. Dobbins and receiver Rashod Bateman, but now they’re finally getting some better news on the health front.
Baltimore has activated tight end Nick Boyle from the PUP list, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Yates notes that Boyle is still uncertain to play Week 1, but this move means the Ravens anticipate him getting back before Week 7 since he would’ve had to miss the first six games had he started the year on the PUP list.
A fifth-round pick back in 2015, Boyle has spent his entire career with the Ravens. He’s never played a huge role on offense, but the team clearly values him. Back in January they gave him a two-year extension worth $13MM with $10.5MM guaranteed to keep him locked up through the 2023 campaign.
The Delaware product is always utilized heavily as a blocker in the Ravens’ run-first offense, but he has shown an ability to snag a few passes in the past. His best season as a receiver was in 2019, when he had 31 catches for 321 yards and two touchdowns. Of course, Mark Andrews is the top receiving option at tight end for Baltimore.
Ravens Cut Michael Schofield
As the Ravens start to cut their roster down to 53, one established veteran found himself on the chopping block. Baltimore terminated the contract of offensive lineman Michael Schofield, the team announced Monday.
As a vested veteran Schofield will now become a free agent who can sign with any team rather than being subjected to waivers. Although it was a formality, the team also officially placed starting running back J.K. Dobbins on injured reserve, ending his 2021 season before it could start.
Schofield originally entered the league as a third-round pick of the Broncos back in 2014. After missing his rookie year he started 29 games at tackle and guard for Denver over the following two seasons, and won Super Bowl 50 with the team. Despite his large contributions he found himself waived just before the start of the 2017 season, and was quickly scooped up by the Chargers.
He ended up starting all 32 games for Los Angeles at guard between 2018-19. He signed with the Panthers as a free agent last offseason, and started three games for Carolina in 2020. Still only 30 and with 69 career starts under his belt as well as some positional versatility, he should be able to find a new home at some point.
Chargers Cut 10 Players
The Chargers are among the teams making early cuts Monday. Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to trim their rosters down to 53 players. The Bolts parted ways with 10. In addition to cutting linebacker Jessie Lemonier, here are the players Los Angeles is waiving:
- LB Davin Bellamy
- LB Nate Evans
- OT Darius Harper
- WR John Hurst
- CB K.J. Sails
- TE Matt Sokol
- CB Donte Vaughn
- DL Willie Yarbary
- LS Cole Mazza (waived/injured)
- OL Tyree St. Louis (waived/injured)
None of these players has reached vested-veteran status, so the contingent will head to the wire. Mazza and St. Louis will revert to the Chargers’ IR list — with injury settlements likely — if they pass through waivers. Some of these players figure to be candidates to land on the Bolts’ practice squad. Teams can begin making those additions later this week, after waiver claims are processed.
Cardinals Place CB Darqueze Dennard On IR
Darqueze Dennard has run into another injury issue, and it will cut his time with the Cardinals short. Arizona is placing the veteran cornerback on IR, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Although teams can bring back players from IR after three weeks, that only applies to players carried through to teams’ 53-man rosters after cutdown day. Since the Cards are sending Dennard to IR now, he cannot play for them this season.
The former Bengals corner has run into some tough injury luck in recent years. A knee issue delayed the start of his 2019 season, when he re-signed with Cincinnati, and the former first-round pick also spent time on the Falcons’ IR list last year with a hamstring malady. Dennard, 29, only landed in Atlanta after a deal with Jacksonville fell through last year. He ended up playing just eight games (six starts) with the 2020 Falcons.
The Cardinals signed Dennard in June, bringing him aboard after not re-signing fellow ex-Bengals first-rounder Dre Kirkpatrick. The Cards also lost Patrick Peterson in free agency. Dennard, Daryl Worley and Malcolm Butler represented the team’s notable veteran additions at the position.
Giants To Trade B.J. Hill To Bengals For Billy Price
We’ve got another trade to report! Not too long after the Bills dealt Darryl Johnson to the Panthers, the Giants and Bengals have pulled off an interesting swap. New York has agreed to trade defensive lineman B.J. Hill, head coach Joe Judge announced to the media on Monday.
Right after Judge said Hill would be traded, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted that it was to the Bengals for offensive lineman Billy Price. The Bengals will also get a conditional seventh-round pick in the deal, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News notes in a tweet. In a follow-up tweet, Rapoport notes that Price has been a “key name” in trade talks recently, and that the Giants were searching for O-line depth.
Price wasn’t the only Bengals lineman on the block, as Albert Breer of SI.com tweets that Cincy also had discussions about guard Michael Jordan. He adds that the Jaguars joined the Giants as teams calling around about interior offensive line help this week.
A former first-rounder, Price was the 18th overall pick back in 2018. Cincinnati declined his fifth-year option this past offseason, meaning he’ll be a free agent after this season. The Ohio State product never lived up to his draft status, and could benefit from the change in scenery.
He was Cincy’s starter at center as a rookie, then moved to guard and only started eight games in 2019. This past season he was mostly a reserve, only starting one game. Hill was a third-round pick back in 2018, and also declined after his rookie year.
In his first pro season he had 5.5 sacks while starting 12 games, but over the past two years he’s had just two total sacks while being reduced to a rotational role. It makes sense for both sides, with each addressing an area of need.
Bills Trade Darryl Johnson To Panthers
The Bills have agreed to trade defensive end Darryl Johnson to the Panthers (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). In exchange, the Panthers will send a 2022 sixth-round draft pick to Buffalo. 
Johnson drew interest from multiple clubs, Rapoport hears. Ultimately, the Panthers won out, scoring a late addition from old friends Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott. New Panthers GM Scott Fitterer sees potential in Johnson, a former seventh-round pick who has 31 career games and two sacks to his credit.
Johnson was facing long odds of making the Bills’ final cut, given their surplus of talent up front. They’re already slated to start Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison at DE with support from A.J. Epenesa and rookies Gregory Rousseau and Carlos Basham.
Now, Johnson will fight for snaps behind Brian Burns and Morgan Fox in Carolina. Still, the 24-year-old figures to spend more time on special teams.
With Johnson in the fold, the Panthers now have 72 players on the roster. They’ll need to trim nearly 20 players between now and tomorrow’s deadline.
Buccaneers Waive Tanner Hudson
The Buccaneers are waiving tight end Tanner Hudson (Twitter link via Greg Auman of The Athletic). Hudson probably won’t be out of work for too long given his recent performances. Outside linebacker Elijah Ponder and tackle Jake Benzinger will also be among the Bucs’ cuts this week, per Auman.
Hudson shined in the Bucs’ first two preseason games, finishing as Tampa’s top receiver in both contests. Unfortunately for him, he was blocked by Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard, and Cameron Brate.
“Ever since we’ve been here, he’s been able to catch the ball. He gives our defense fits on the card (scout) team,” coach Bruce Arians said last week (via The Athletic). “When he’s had opportunities in ballgames, they haven’t been quite the same. I want to see him do something besides preseason, and something besides catch the ball. He’s not a wide receiver. He’s a tight end, so you’ve got to be able to block a little bit. Just see him grow in that regard and be a physical presence on special teams with his size and speed.”
Now, after two years in Tampa Bay, Hudson could be claimed by another TE-needy team this week. The Giants — who are awaiting word on Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph — would be a logical landing spot.
Buccaneers Release Antonio Hamilton
The Buccaneers have cut cornerback Antonio Hamilton (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Hamilton was vying for one of the team’s final CB spots, but he won’t be a part of the team’s initial 53-man roster.
Hamilton signed with the Raiders as a UDFA out of South Carolina State in 2016. He went on to play a full 16-game slate with the Giants in 2019 before joining the Chiefs last year where he also turned in perfect attendance. According to agent Drew Rosenhaus, Hamilton turned down a more lucrative offer to sign with Kansas City and compete for a Super Bowl ring. He was undoubtedly thrilled to switch sides and join the Bucs earlier this year.
Most of Hamilton’s work has come on special teams, as he has played a total of 335 defensive snaps in his five-year career. He could offer ST prowess for another team in need and perhaps get some action as a backup corner.
Cardinals Cut 10 Players
The Cardinals got a jump on their roster housekeeping today. In advance of Tuesday’s 53-man deadline, they cut:
- OL Shaq Calhoun
- RB Tavien Feaster
- WR KeeSean Johnson
- OL Michal Menet
- DL Cam Murray
- CB Picasso Nelson
- WR A.J. Richardson
- LB Evan Weaver
- P Ryan Winslow
- LB Bryson Young
Johnson, a 2019 sixth-rounder, was pushing for the final wide receiver slot on the Week 1 roster. Instead, he was leapfrogged by Andy Isabella, Greg Dortch, and Antoine Wesley. All three are still on the roster as of this writing, but nothing is guaranteed for any of them beyond tomorrow. Johnson, 25 in October, registered 15 catches for 173 yards in eight games last year.