Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, and Redskins are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Dallas Cowboys
- Acquired:
- LB Jayrone Elliott (story)
- Claimed:
- DT Brian Price
- Cut:
- LB Mark Nzeocha
- DL Cedric Thornton (story)
- Signed to practice squad:
- G Nate Theaker
- T Dan Skipper
- DT Lewis Neal
- DT Richard Ash
- WR Lance Lenoir
- WR Brian Brown
- TE Blake Jarwin
- T Kadeem Edwards
- S Jameill Showers
- CB Marquez White
New York Giants
- Signed to practice squad:
- T Adam Bisnowaty
- DE Jordan Williams
- WR Marquis Bundy
- OL Jon Halapio
- LB Curtis Grant
- CB Donte Deayon
- CB Tim Scott
- S Ryan Murphy
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed to practice squad:
- C Josh Andrews
- TE Billy Brown
- LB Nate Gerry
- T Dillon Gordon
- DT Justin Hamilton
- RB Byron Marshall
- CB C.J. Smith
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- WR Bryce Treggs
- WR Greg Ward
Washington Redskins
- Claimed:
- OL T.J. Clemmings (story)
- Placed on exempt/left squad list:
- S Su’a Cravens (story)
- Signed to practice squad:
- DL Brandon Banks
- WR Robert Davis
- TE Manasseh Garner
- WR Maurice Harris
- G Kyle Kalis
- LB Pete Robertson
- S Fish Smithson
Redskins Claim OL T.J. Clemmings
The Redskins have claimed offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings off waivers from the Vikings, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.
Clemmings, 25, has started 30 games for Minnesota since being selected in the fourth round of the 2015 draft. However, he’s consistently graded as one of the worst offensive linemen in the NFL, earning poor marks at both guard and tackle.
Washington’s starting offensive line is set, but Clemmings will give the club a reserve option behind tackles Trent Williams and Morgan Moses and guards Brandon Scherff and Shawn Lauvao.
Su’a Cravens Reverses Retirement Decision
Redskins safety Su’a Cravens informed the club on Saturday that he intended to retire, but has reversed his decision (for now) after a meeting with Washington decision-makers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Cravens will be placed on NFI list which will rule him out for at least a month while the team helps him to alleviate some “issues,” per Schefter (Twitter link) and Mike Jones of The Washington Post (Twitter link).
Cravens, 22, has contemplated retirement before, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post, and while details are slim as to the reasons behind Cravens’ decision, injury issues could be one possibility. Cravens is now required to wear glasses full-time following a concussion in 2016, and brain injuries have caused young players to hang up their cleats in the past. A torn biceps ended Cravens’ season last year, meanwhile, and he’s currently recovering from knee surgery. However, it’s “more than a physical thing” that’s led Cravens to mull retirement, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
With veteran DeAngelo Hall starting the season on the physically unable to perform list, Washington has a vacancy at safety opposite D.J. Swearinger. Other defensive backs on the Redskins’ roster include Stefan McClure, Montae Nicholson, and DeShazor Everett.
Cravens, a second-round draft pick in 2016, appeared in 11 games and made three starts during his rookie campaign while playing both defensive back and linebacker. He’d been expected to shift to safety full-time for the 2017 season.
Redskins Reach 53-Man Max
The Redskins are now at the 53-man roster maximum. Here’s how they trimmed down:
Released:
- S Will Blackmon (story)
- DL A.J. Francis
Waived:
- DL Brandon Banks
- TE E.J. Bibbs (designated as injured)
- C Lucas Crowley
- WR Robert Davis
- TE Manasseh Garner
- WR Maurice Harris
- WR Matt Hazel
- RB Kenny Hilliard
- CB Tevin Homer
- WR Levern Jacobs (designated as injured)
- RB Matt Jones (story)
- G Kyle Kalis
- T John Kling
- G Arie Kouandjio
- LB Nico Marley
- DL Joey Mbu
- CB Jeremiah McKinnon
- OL Kendall Pace
- T Vinston Painter
- WR Zach Pascal
- C Ronald Patrick (designated as injured)
- DL Ondre Pipkins
- WR James Quick
- LB Pete Robertson
- S Fish Smithson
- WR Jamari Staples
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- LB Ron Thompson Jr. (designated as injured)
- LB Lynden Trail (designated as injured)
- LB Zach Vigil
- OL Isaiah Williams
Redskins Trade TE Derek Carrier To Rams
We heard earlier this morning that the Redskins could consider cutting tight end Derek Carrier. Now, it sounds like the player is actually getting traded, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Carrier has been traded to the Rams. Washington will receive a 2018 seventh-rounder (via the team’s Twitter account).
The tight end struggled to stay healthy during his two seasons in Washington, appearing in only 20 games after tearing his ACL towards the end of the 2015 campaign. During his two years with the Redskins, Carrier hauled in only 19 catches for 151 yards and one touchdown. With Washington currently rostering four tight ends in Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Niles Paul, and rookie Jeremy Sprinkle, Carrier was clearly expendable. The Redskins initially acquired the tight end after sending a conditional fifth-rounder to the 49ers before the 2015 season. Carrier has also had brief stints with the Raiders and Eagles.
The trade means that the tight end will be reuniting with his former offensive coordinator, Sean McVay, who is now the head coach in Los Angeles. Carrier could have an opportunity to contribute, although it’s likely that the team rolls with second-rounder Gerald Everett as their starter. Therefore, the recently-acquired tight end will presumably compete with Tyler Higbee and Cory Harkey for a reserve role.
Redskins Could Cut TE Derek Carrier
One way or another, Derek Carrier‘s time with the Redskins is drawing to a close today. If the Redskins cannot find a trade for him by this afternoon’s roster deadline they’ll release him outright, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Carrier has been slowed by injuries ever since coming to the Redskins in 2015. He suffered a torn ACL during the 2015 season and his recovery extended into 2016. He has appeared in 20 games for Washington, but he has only 19 receptions to his name during that time.
If a team trades for Carrier, they’ll be taking on a $1MM cap charge for 2017. A trade doesn’t seem terribly likely, but two teams are at least discussing a swap with Washington today.
Redskins To Cut Matt Jones
The drawn-out Redskins/Matt Jones saga appears to have ended. The franchise informed the running back he’ll be waived today, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Jones fell out of favor with the team early during his second season and found himself on the trade block, having fallen behind Rob Kelley and Samaje Perine on Washington’s depth chart. He’ll venture onto waivers after the Redskins were evidently unwilling to find a trade partner, one they were reportedly searching for as far back as the 2016 trade deadline.
The former Florida running back’s former agent lobbied for a release in June, and Jones then switched representation to Drew Rosenhaus. Being a former third-round pick whose yards-per-carry average spiked by more than a yard to 4.6 per tote last season, Jones figures to draw interest on the waiver wire.
Washington benched Jones midseason, however, after using him as a starter in seven games. He nearly outdid his 2015 production (490 yards) despite playing in six fewer contests. But the team clearly soured on the former well-regarded investment. Jones’ improved per-carry numbers notwithstanding, he’s fumbled eight times over the past two seasons.
Extra Points: Steelers, Bell, Bears
Here’s a quick look around the NFL:
- Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell passed his physical yesterday after showing up at the team’s facility, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He did not sign his franchise tag yet, but he will, Rapoport adds. Bell’s Steelers open up the season in Cleveland on Sept. 10.
- The Bears were the only team to put in a waiver claim on kicker Roberto Aguayo after the Bucs cut him earlier this month, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. They’re now likely going to be stuck paying his $428K guarantee after releasing him on Saturday.
- The Redskins are still trying to trade Derek Carrier and two teams are currently in on him, Mike Jones of The Washington Post (on Twitter) hears. It’s still unclear how likely a deal is, however. Carrier has been traded before – he came to Washington via a swap with San Francisco in 2015.
- The Cardinals will pursue punter Andy Lee now that he is a free agent, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic tweets. This makes sense considering that the Cardinals considered trading for him this week prior to his release.
- The Packers are looking for help at offensive guard, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle hears (Twitter link). Green Bay will start Lane Taylor and Jahri Evans at the two guard spots.
DeAngelo Hall Takes Pay Cut
The Redskins have restructured DeAngelo Hall‘s salary for the second time since June, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Instead of the $2.2MM Hall was scheduled to make, the safety will earn a fully guaranteed $1.1MM and have a chance at some incentives.
Prior to June, Hall was set to earn a base salary of $4.25MM with a cap number above $5MM. However, given his recent injury troubles, the Redskins don’t believe he’s worth that type of money anymore. The 33-year-old Hall appeared in just 17 of a possible 48 regular-season games over the past three campaigns. Thanks to the torn ACL he suffered last year, he’ll begin this season on the PUP list and miss the first six weeks.
Redskins Cut S Will Blackmon
The Redskins have cut veteran safety Will Blackmon, two sources tell Mike Jones of The Washington Post (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Redskins Shopping TE Derek Carrier]
Blackmon has appeared in 30 out of 32 possible appearances for the Redskins over the last two years, including 16 starts. He played corner in 2015 but shifted to safety last year when the team signed Josh Norman.
Blackmon had 39 total tackles, one interception, three passes defensed, and half a sack last year. In his 570 snaps on defense, he earned a strong 79.7 overall score from Pro Football Focus, placing him as the 32nd best safety in the league. He placed ahead of notables like Shawn Williams, Bradley McDougald, and T.J. Ward.