Dolphins Place G D.J. Fluker On IR
Signed to be a veteran presence on the Dolphins’ offensive line, D.J. Fluker will not play for the team this season. The Dolphins placed the experienced guard on IR Thursday.
The Dolphins signed the former first-round pick just before the draft. While Fluker signed for the veteran minimum without any fully guaranteed money, this is a bit of a blow to Miami’s depth up front. The Dolphins are set to go young on the offensive line this season.
This move will not KO Fluker for the season, however. While Thursday’s transaction prevents him from playing for the Dolphins this year, the eight-year vet could play elsewhere if an injury settlement is reached. That scenario is likely, with Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweeting Fluker underwent meniscus surgery today but is expected to be ready to play within a month. The Dolphins, evidently, did not want to wait on Fluker’s recovery. A conditioning issue also cropped up with Fluker, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson.
Fluker, 30, spent last season with the Ravens, with whom he started eight games. Prior to that, Fluker spent two years as a Seahawks guard starter. He previously played with the Giants and Chargers, who chose him in the 2013 first round.
Miami, which traded Ereck Flowers back to Washington earlier this year, may have four rookie-contract starters up front this year. Ex-Fluker Raven teammate Matt Skura, however, is vying for the Dolphins’ starting center role, and versatile veteran Jesse Davis remains in the mix.
To replace Fluker on their roster, the Dolphins signed former UDFA guard Ross Reynolds.
Jets, Zach Wilson Agree To Deal
It took a little longer than expected, but the Jets have signed the No. 2 overall pick. Quarterback Zach Wilson has agreed to terms (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport), clearing the way for him to join his teammates on the practice field.
The two sides were haggling over offset language and the timing of Wilson’s signing bonus — the front office was hoping to “defer millions in signing bonus money” to 2022. Normally, top-two picks get all their signing bonus money up front. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, and Washington defensive end Chase Young all got theirs within 30 days of inking their respective rookie deals. The compromise: The Jets get their offset and Wilson gets his bonus inside of the next 15 days.
Now, the Jets can operate as planned, with Wilson taking first-team reps ahead of James Morgan and Mike White. The deal also means that all the Round 1 paperwork has been completed across the league. Chargers inked first-round pick Rashawn Slater and 49ers quarterback Trey Lance signed earlier this week while Wilson waited until the very end.
Wilson didn’t earn as much fanfare as Trevor Lawrence, but he still offers tons of potential for Gang Green. The 6’2″ passer is fresh off of a breakout season with a 73.5% completion rate, good for No. 2 in the nation. Meanwhile, his 33 passing touchdowns placed him third, and he threw just three interceptions. Meanwhile, Wilson’s mobility powered him to ten rushing touchdowns last year, showcasing the speed he’ll need to thrive at the pro level.
Titans Sign DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
Briean Boddy-Calhoun has joined his sixth NFL team. The veteran defensive back is signing with the Titans, reports Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).
After appearing in 43 games through his first three seasons in the NFL, the cornerback has been limited to only four games over the past two seasons. He stayed unsigned for most of the 2020 campaign, but after joining San Francisco’s practice squad in December, he managed to get into one game for the 49ers, appearing exclusively on special teams.
While Boddy-Calhoun‘s recent inability to stick around the league is worrying, the former undrafted free agent showed enough to stick around the NFL during his stint with the Browns. In total, the 28-year-old has seen time in 47 games (22 starts), collecting 151 tackles, three interceptions, and three sacks. The cornerback has spent time with the Jaguars, Browns, Texans, Colts, and 49ers.
This transaction follows the Titans placement of defensive back Chris Jones on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Boddy-Calhoun‘s ability to play both cornerback and safety provides him a better opportunity at a roster spot, and he could provide some experience to a team that added three defensive backs in this year’s draft (Caleb Farley, Elijah Molden, and Brady Breeze).
Colts Sign DE Damontre Moore
The Colts auditioned a handful of pass rushers today, and one player emerged with a contract. Aaron Wilson tweets that Indy has signed Damontre Moore.
The 2013 third-round pick has truly settled into journeyman status after spending the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Giants. Since leaving New York, the defensive lineman has spent time with the Dolphins, Raiders, Seahawks, Cowboys, Raiders (again), the 49ers, and the Seahawks (again). He also had a brief cameo in the AAF during the 2019 campaign.
The 28-year-old spent the 2020 campaign with the Seahawks. He saw time in 10 games (his highest total since 2015), finishing with nine tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. He also sat out six games thanks to a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. In total, Moore has seen time in 66 games, collecting 11 sacks, four forced fumbles, 12 tackles for loss, and 36 QB hits.
The Colts were apparently sniffing around for defensive lineman, as the team also hosted Nick Coe and Davin Bellamy today. Colts defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, so the organization could simply be looking for some reinforcement. Moore will be joining a depth chart that features Tyquan Lewis, Kwity Paye, Kemoko Turay, Isaac Rochell, Dayo Odeyingbo, Ben Banogu, Kameron Cline, and Muhammad.
Patriots Claim QB Jake Dolegala
The Patriots have added another quarterback. The team announced today that they’ve claimed quarterback Jake Dolegala off waivers from the Packers. The 24-year-old was waived by Green Bay yesterday.
More notably, it sounds like today’s transaction was insurance for another QB on the roster. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic (via Twitter), backup Jarrett Stidham “isn’t expected back in the near future.” The quarterback landed on the physically unable to perform list earlier this week, and Howe writes that the player is battling a shoulder injury that could ultimately lead to surgery.
At one time, it was believed that Stidham could be the heir apparent to Tom Brady. Instead, the 2019 fourth-round pick barely played during his sophomore season, and he fell further down the depth chart when the team added Mac Jones this offseason. The Auburn product will be 25 by the start of the next season, and despite collecting only 48 attempts through two seasons, it’s unlikely his NFL career is in danger. However, it’s looking like he doesn’t have much of a future in New England.
Dolegala actually spent most of his rookie season on the Patriots practice squad, and after earning a reserve/future contract in January, he was waived by the team in April. His best chance of sticking with the Patriots is probably via the practice squad; even with Stidham temporarily out of the picture, the team is still rostering Jones, Cam Newton, and Brian Hoyer.
Bears TE Jake Butt Retires
Jake Butt is calling it career. The Bears placed the veteran tight end on the reserve-retired list today (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter).
Butt had a standout collegiate career at Michigan, earning a first-team All-American nod and a pair of first-team All-Big Ten honors. However, he also suffered a pair of torn ACLs during his time in college, and that led to him sliding to the fifth round of the 2017 draft.
Unfortunately for the tight end, it was more of the same in the NFL. Thanks mostly to continued injuries, the six-foot-six target was limited to only eight games in four seasons. After returning from his college ACL tear in 2018, Butt sustained another torn ACL, ending that season prematurely. Complications from his injury forced him to sit out the 2019 campaign, and his 2020 season was cut short thanks to a hamstring injury.
In total, the 25-year-old finished his career having hauled in 10 receptions for 90 yards in eight games (four starts). Five of those games came in 2020, with Butt appearing in 11-percent of Denver’s offensive snaps.
It was only last month that the 26-year-old caught on with the Bears. The organization may have had an inkling that this decision was coming; the team signed tight end Jesse James earlier this week. The new addition will join a depth chart that also includes Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet, and fellow newcomers J.P. Holtz.
Texans Trade Randall Cobb To Packers
He’s back. On Wednesday, the Texans agreed to send veteran wide receiver Randall Cobb back to Green Bay (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). The deal will see the Packers send a 2022 sixth-round pick to the Texans, who will also pick up $3MM of Cobb’s salary in 2021.
The trade came at the request/demand of MVP Aaron Rodgers, who agreed to return to the Packers earlier this week. Without Rodgers’ insistence, it’s unlikely that this trade would have ever materialized. Cobb never played for Matt LaFleur and third-round wide receiver Amari Rodgers was already ticketed for much of the team’s slot work. Still, Rodgers wanted his old pal back and the Packers weren’t about to say no to him, or Cobb’s wealth of experience. Now, Cobb will join Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Devin Funchess, and the other A. Rodgers on the WR depth chart.
Cobb played eight seasons with the Packers, totaling 41 receiving touchdowns and more than 5,500 yards. He secured a $10MM-per-year extension in 2015 — a decent sum at the time — but the Packers let him walk in 2019. Cobb signed with the Cowboys and performed better than anyone else left in Wisconsin.
The 5’10” receiver parlayed that success into a three-year, $27MM contract with the Texans, but that deal was authorized by since-fired HC/GM Bill O’Brien. Cobb was also limited to just ten games. Now that they have slot receiver Anthony Miller, the new administration was willing to part with him.
Cobb, 31 in August, is scheduled to earn a base salary of $8.25MM in 2021 — partially paid by Houston.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/28/21
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: QB Kenji Bahar
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Krishawn Hogan
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OL Dennis Kelly
Washington Football Team
- Reverted to IR: DE Jalen Jelks
Giants To Cut Kelvin Benjamin
The Giants are done with Kelvin Benjamin. The wide receiver-turned-tight end will be released following a Wednesday blowup with team officials (Twitter link via NJ.com’s Steve Politi). 
Benjamin was seen jawing with head coach Joe Judge and GM Dave Gettleman before storming off of the practice field. Now, he’s off the team.
Benjamin joined up with the G-Men earlier this year in an effort to reboot his career at a new position. Gettleman drafted him in 2014 — as a receiver — but he hadn’t shown his first-round potential in years. At 6’5″ and 245 pounds, Benjamin has the bulk to play TE. However, he’ll have to try his hand somewhere else now.
In his first pro season, Benjamin had 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns. After missing 2015 with a torn ACL, he had 941 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016. He was traded to the Bills midway through the 2017 season, and his career went downhill quickly after that.
With Evan Engram and free agent acquisition Kyle Rudolph, the Giants don’t necessarily need Benjamin or the drama.
49ers Sign Trey Lance
It’s a done deal. On Wednesday, No. 3 overall draft pick Trey Lance formally inked his rookie contract with the 49ers. 
Per the terms of his slot, the quarterback will earn $34.1MM over the next four years. And, as a first-rounder, the Niners will reserve the right to tack on an additional season via the fifth-year option. Lance’s deal — completed just before the 49ers’ Wednesday morning practice — leaves Jets’ No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson as the last unsigned first-round pick.
The future is bright for Lance, but he’ll open the year on the bench. Earlier this week, Kyle Shanahan made it clear that Jimmy Garoppolo is still his QB1.
“Trey’s had seven practices with us, and I haven’t seen him in 40 days, so I’m not thinking about that right now,” Shanahan said. “There’s no open competition right now in terms of equal reps with the same group…Jimmy is coming in as the one, and Trey is coming in as the two.”
Of course, that’ll likely be Lance’s job come 2022. Niners GM John Lynch is saying all the right things, but he didn’t mortgage all that draft ammo for a professional clipboard holder.