Vikings Waive RB Ito Smith, 2 Others
Ito Smith‘s Vikings stay will end up being short. Five days after signing the young running back, the Vikings waived him. They also waived offensive lineman Cohl Cabral and defensive tackle Zeandae Johnson.
This marks the third time a team has cut Smith this year. The Falcons waived him in April, and the Cardinals moved on from the fourth-year back earlier this month. Smith spent barely a week in Arizona. These quick exits do not bode well for the former Atlanta rotational back to land out a meaningful role in 2021. Though, teams’ backfields often change due to injury, opening the door to street free agent ball carriers.
A fourth-round pick in 2018, Smith has averaged north of 4.3 yards per carry in each of the past two seasons. He totaled 268 rushing yards on 63 attempts last year, splitting time with Todd Gurley and Brian Hill. Of the Falcons’ top three 2020 backs, only Hill has a gig (with the Titans) presently.
Teams have until 3pm Tuesday to cut their rosters from 80 to 53 players. Many of the players waived next week will be candidates to land practice squad jobs, with the NFL greenlighting a second season of 16-man P-squads. Players waived early, however, obviously stand to have less of a chance to stick around in that regard.
Colts Claim TE Kahale Warring
Kahale Warring will head back to the AFC South and be with a third team in less than a week. After the Patriots waived the young tight end, the Colts submitted a successful claim for him, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
A Texans third-round pick in 2019, Warring landed on the waiver wire after Houston cut him Monday. New England came through with a claim but jettisoned the San Diego State product soon after. The Colts attempted to claim Warring initially, and after losing out to the Pats’ waiver priority, they were awarded the third-year pass catcher this time around.
The early returns on Warring are not good. Injuries have limited the former prospect to just seven games in two seasons, and his resume includes three receptions in that span. Warring missed all of his rookie season due to injury. Warring is still just 24 and has seen a few teams show interest this week. The Saints also tried to claim Warring earlier this week. It is not yet known if New Orleans submitted a second claim like Indianapolis did. The Colts had the better waiver priority, due to finishing the 2020 season with a worse record.
Indianapolis has Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox as its top two tight ends, with the team also having used a fourth-round pick on Kylen Granson this year. Warring could profile as a practice squad developmental candidate, but that would mean the Colts passing him through waivers next week.
Panthers Cut K Joey Slye, 6 Others
The Panthers are beginning to move their roster toward the 53-man limit. Shortly after the trade for Ryan Santoso, the team cut its incumbent kicker — Joey Slye — and six other players.
In addition to Carolina waiving Slye, the team cut safety Doug Middleton, tackle Martez Ivey, wide receiver Ishmael Hyman, linebacker Paddy Fisher and linebacker Jonathan Celestin. The Panthers waived running back Darius Clark with an injury designation. Of this crop, only Middleton is a vested veteran who can avoid the waiver wire.
[RELATED: Giants Trade Santoso To Panthers]
As evidenced by Matt Rhule trying 65- and 67-yard yard field goals against the Saints and Chiefs last season, Slye has one of the strongest legs in the NFL. His placement on the wire may affect another team’s kicking situation. The wire is currently determined by 2020 record, so the Jaguars and Jets will have the first crack at the young kicker.
Slye, 25, kicked for the Panthers for the past two seasons. He replaced Graham Gano in Carolina. Gano is now with the Giants, who ended up delivering the Panthers Slye’s replacement in Santoso. Slye did miss seven field goals last season, though two of them came from beyond 65 yards. The Virginia Tech product also missed seven tries (25-for-32) in 2019, when he took over for an injured Gano.
A five-year veteran, Middleton played in 10 games with the Jaguars last season as a backup. The Panthers’ roster currently sits at 71 players.
Ravens Trade OL Greg Mancz To Dolphins
The Ravens have made their second trade of the week. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Baltimore has traded offensive lineman Greg Mancz to the Dolphins for a late-round draft pick. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley clarifies (on Twitter) that Mancz and a seventh-round pick (acquired from the Patriots earlier this week) will head to Miami, with the Dolphins sending the Ravens a sixth-round pick.
[RELATED: Ravens Trade Shaun Wade To Patriots]
Mancz, a former undrafted free agent, spent six years with the Texans, starting 13 of his 28 games. However, the veteran struggled to get on the field during his final two seasons in Houston, combining for only 13 games played. This included a 2020 campaign when he saw time in only four games, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams.
The 29-year-old joined the Ravens practice squad late last season, and he inked a reserve/futures contract with the team in January. However, as the preseason went on, most pundits dropped the veteran from their roster predictions.
Now, Mancz will have a chance to stick around Miami. The veteran could be useful thanks to his versatility; he’s lined up at center, guard, and right tackle throughout his career. The Dolphins’ offensive line appears to be just about set, but the team could be looking for some reinforcement after second-round rookie Liam Eichenberg suffered an injury during this week’s practice. Adam Beasley of ProFootballNetwork.com speculates that today’s move could also cost veteran Matt Skura his roster spot. The veteran center already found himself behind Michael Deiter on the depth chart, and cutting the 28-year-old could save Miami $1.4MM against the cap.
Jaguars Sign WR Devin Smith
Devin Smith has earned himself another NFL gig. The veteran wide receiver signed with the Jaguars today, per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco (via Twitter). The team also signed offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor.
Smith was a standout playing for current Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer while the two were at Ohio State, and that performance made Smith a second-round pick by the Jets in 2015. The wideout proved to be a disappointment, as he collected only 10 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown in 14 games (three starts) through two years with the team. To be fair, a torn ACL derailed his rookie campaign, and another ACL tear in 2017 forced him to miss the entire season. The receiver was ultimately waived by the team in 2018 and ended up sitting out that entire season, as well.
He got another chance in 2019 with the Cowboys, finishing with five receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown in four games (two starts). He was released by Dallas prior to last season, and he spent most of the 2020 campaign on the Texans and Patriots practice squad. New England held on to him for much of the 2021 offseason before ultimately cutting him last month.
In Jacksonville, Smith will have an uphill battle to make the roster. The Jaguars have DJ Chark, Laviska Shenault Jr., and Marvin Jones leading their depth chart, with notable names like Phillip Dorsett, Jamal Agnew, Laquon Treadwell, and Pharoh Cooper listed as backups.
Eluemunor, a 2017 fifth-round pick out of Texas A&M, spent two seasons with the Ravens before getting traded to the Patriots in 2019. The lineman spent two seasons in New England, appearing in 22 games with eight starts. He signed with the Dolphins earlier this offseason but was cut by the team earlier this week.
Eagles Release QB Nick Mullens
Following their acquisition of Gardner Minshew, the Eagles have cut a quarterback. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the team has released Nick Mullens.
[RELATED: Jaguars Trade QB Gardner Minshew To Eagles]
Mullens had spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers, seeing time in 19 games (16 starts). While San Francisco only went 5-11 in those 16 starts, Mullens still put up respectable numbers, completing 64.5-percent of his passes for 4,714 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions. That included a 2020 campaign where the 26-year-old tossed 12 touchdowns while guiding the 49ers to a 2-6 record in eight starts.
Mullens inked a one-year deal with the Eagles back in June, and he was expected to serve as a third quarterback behind Jalen Hurts and Joe Flacco. However, the organization pivoted a bit this morning, acquiring Minshew from the Jaguars. As a result, Mullens earned his walking papers, making him a free agent.
Considering the quarterback’s starting experience, there’s a good chance Mullens finds another gig as a backup. In fact, several reporters (including Brian Costello of the New York Post and Ralph Vacchiano of SNY) speculate that Mullens could be an option for the Jets. Besides his connection to current head coach (and former 49ers defensive coordinator) Robert Saleh, Mullens is also familiar with current Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who had spent the previous four years serving as San Francisco’s passing game coordinator. Plus, as Vacchiano tweets, the Jets got a recent up-close look at Mullens; the team participated in joint practices with the Eagles this week, and Mullens completed 10 of his 14 pass attempts in last night’s preseason contest.
Jaguars Trade QB Gardner Minshew To Eagles
Minshew Mania is heading to Philly. The Jaguars are trading quarterback Gardner Minshew to the Eagles, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Jacksonville will receive a conditional sixth-round pick. That sixth-round pick could turn into a fifth-round pick if Minshew plays in at least 50-percent of his team’s snaps in three individual games, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
With the Jaguars landing the first-overall pick and can’t-miss prospect Trevor Lawrence, Minshew found himself in the rumor mill for much of the offseason. The organization naturally wanted to see what they had in Lawrence before making a hasty decision on their other signal caller, but the writing was on the wall when coach Urban Meyer announced Lawrence as the Week 1 starter. While Minshew would have been a reliable contingency plan in the event of an injury to Lawrence, the Jaguars were apparently looking to cash in on their number-two quarterback as soon as possible. Today’s move means C.J. Beathard will slide in as Lawrence’s definitive backup.
While Minshew probably would have been that definitive backup quarterback in Jacksonville, he’ll now find himself third on the depth chart in Philly. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), today’s trade has done nothing to shake up the Eagles depth chart, as starter Jalen Hurts and backup Joe Flacco have solid holds on their jobs. So, as Rapoport notes on Twitter, the Eagles are acquiring Minshew as a reclamation project/developmental piece, with the reporter noting that the front office loves to “collect and develop talent at the most important position.” In fact, the team considered using a late-round pick on a developmental quarterback during the 2021 draft (per Rapoport); instead, they used a 2022 late-round pick on a 25-year-old with 23 games of experience.
Considering his production, Minshew could find himself eventually climbing the depth chart in Philadelphia. The team committed more than $3MM to Flacco, so it’s most likely that the team carries three quarterbacks for much of the season. Minshew has cap number of $898K in 2021 and $1.01MM in 2022, providing the Eagles with a low-cost option as they try to get clarity on their quarterbacks situation in 2021.
Minshew transformed from a little-known, 2019 sixth-round pick into a sensation during his rookie campaign. Filling it for Nick Foles, Minshew ended up starting 12 of his 14 games, completing 60.6-percent of his passes for 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. He also guided the Jaguars to a 6-6 record during his 12 starts. The Jaguars took a clear step back in 2020, but Minshew still put up solid numbers. While Jacksonville went only 1-7 in Minshew’s eight starts, the quarterback still completed 66.1-percent of his passes for 2,259 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. He’s also shown some versatility outside of the passing game, collecting 497 rushing yards on 96 career carries.
Saints Sign Damion Square
The Saints have signed nose tackle Damion Square, per the league wire. To make room, they’ve released fullback Sutton Smith. 
Square spent 2014-20 with the Chargers, re-upping with the team in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020. He started 24 games for the Bolts in total and enjoyed one of his best seasons in 2018 — 6.5 sacks on a 51% defensive snap rate. However, Los Angeles’ new coaching staff did not bring him back for an eighth season.
Square hooked on with the Browns earlier this year, only to get released earlier this month. The Browns didn’t necessarily need him, after adding the likes of Jadeveon Clowney, Takk McKinley and Malik Jackson. They also have defensive tackle Andrew Billings back from his 2020 opt-out.
The 32-year-old will now try to make an impression on the Saints with just days to go before the final cut to 53.
Patriots Waive TE Kahale Warring
The Patriots have waived tight end Kahale Warring, per the NFL’s transactions wire. The timing comes as a bit of a surprise, since Warring was claimed off waivers just a few days ago.
[POLL: Who Will Be The Patriots’ QB1?]
The Texans, who are now run by longtime Bill Belichick right-hand man Nick Caserio, cut Warring in their move down to 80 players. The Pats grabbed him right after placing fellow TEs Dalton Keene and Troy Fumagalli on IR. Warring seemed to have a solid chance of making the roster in support of Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, especially since Henry is banged up with an injury of his own. However, for one reason or another, it didn’t work out.
The rest of the league will now have an opportunity to claim Warring. The Colts and Saints tried to snag him the last time around, so both teams seem like logical destinations for the 24-year-old.
Packers Release Devin Funchess
The Packers have released Devin Funchess with an injury settlement, per the league’s transactions wire. Between this and last year’s opt-out, Funchess’ Packers run will end without having ever played a game for Green Bay. 
This was the expected move after the Packers placed Funchess on IR earlier this week. Funchess has not played since his 2019 stint with the Colts, which was really more like a cup of coffee. That season ended midway through the season opener thanks to a broken collarbone. Funchess earned $10MM in salary that year — this time, he’ll leave with a portion of his one-year, $1.2MM contract.
The Panthers selected Funchess in the second round of the 2015 draft, but he has yet to put it all together in the pros. He enjoyed the best year of his career in 2017, compiling 63 receptions for 840 yards and eight touchdowns. Still, it’s worth noting that it took him 111 targets to get those 63 grabs.
With Funchess out of the picture, the Packers will move forward with Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb as their top WRs.