Nick Williams (DL)

49ers Activate Talanoa Hufanga, Move Roster To 53

August 27th, 2024 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two 49ers remain out out of the mix (but definitely not out of headlines, in Brandon Aiyuk‘s case), though both standouts are still employed by the team. Though, Trent Williams remains on the reserve/did not report list. Here is how the defending NFC champs pared their roster to 53 by today’s deadline:

Released:

OL Ben Bartch
WR Robbie Chosen
OL Chris Hubbard
DL T.Y. McGill
OL Brandon Parker
TE Eric Saubert
WR Trent Taylor
TE Logan Thomas
S Tracy Walker
DL Nick Williams
CB Rock Ya-Sin

Waived:

OL Isaac Alarcon
DL Evan Anderson
DL Alex Barrett
DL Shakel Brown
DL Jonathan Garvin
LB Jalen Graham
WR Danny Gray
OL Sebastian Gutierrez
OL Jarrett Kingston
TE Cameron Latu
CB Chase Lucas
S Jaylen Mahoney
WR Tay Martin
QB Tanner Mordecai
OL Drake Nugent
TE Mason Pline
RB Cody Schrader
TE Brayden Willis
CB Samuel Womack

Hufanga’s status represents a positive development for a 49ers team in need of them. The All-Pro safety had been rumored to join Greenlaw on the reserve/PUP list. Avoiding it does not guarantee Hufanga will be ready for Week 1, but it keeps the fourth-year defender in the equation for the 49ers’ first four games. They are choosing to carry Hufanga on the 53-man roster and go week-to-week with him. This undoubtedly led to Walker being moved off the roster.

Conversely, Mitchell’s time with the team may be over. San Francisco surprised most by vaulting the 2021 sixth-round pick into a starting role to open that season, dropping Trey Sermon to a backup spot. Mitchell operated as San Francisco’s preferred starter — as long as he was healthy, which was sporadic — until the October 2022 Christian McCaffrey trade. The 49ers now have Jordan Mason and rookie Isaac Guerendo as CMC backups.

A hamstring injury has sidelined Mitchell, potentially opening the door to an injury settlement. Davis will be able to return this season for the 49ers; Mitchell’s designation would prevent that. The 49ers are down to seven IR activations as a result of the Davis decision. A 2022 sixth-round pick, Davis remains in the team’s plans despite injuries largely keeping him out of action. Davis has played just three NFL games, and he suffered another injury — a knee issue requiring surgery — during camp.

The 49ers, who will bring many of these players back to the practice squad, cut two recent third-round picks — Gray and Latu. The latter has not played yet as a pro, missing his entire rookie season with an ACL tear. Gray has been unable to carve out a role on a 49ers team that has seen Jauan Jennings stick as the team’s WR3; rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing are also in the mix now.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/24

August 14th, 2024 at 9:20pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Signed: LB Storey Jackson
Waived: P Ryan Sanborn

Buffalo Bills

Reverted to IR: WR Bryan Thompson

Carolina Panthers

Waived: S Clayton Isbell
Released (with injury settlement): OLB Kemoko Turay

Cincinnati Bengals

Placed on reserve/retired list: DE Jeff Gunter

Dallas Cowboys

Signed: C Cohl Cabral
Waived (with injury designation): DE Shaka Toney

Denver Broncos

Waived (with injury settlement): OLB Jaylon Allen

Detroit Lions

Signed: CB Javelin Guidry
Reverted to IR: LB DaRon Gilbert
Waived (with injury designation): S Morice Norris Jr.

Green Bay Packers

Signed: RB Nate McCrary
Waived: LS Peter Bowden, S Tyler Coyle

Indianapolis Colts

Signed: DE Derek Rivers, WR Greg Ward
Waived: S Kendell Brooks, WR Ethan Fernea

Las Vegas Raiders

Activated from active/PUP list: G Jackson Powers-Johnson
Released (with injury settlement): WR Keelan Doss

Los Angeles Chargers

Signed: TE Tucker Fisk

Los Angeles Rams

Signed: DT Carlos Watkins

Miami Dolphins

Signed: DT Robert Cooper

Minnesota Vikings

Reverted to IR: LB Jabril Cox

New England Patriots

Waived (with injury settlement): DE John Morgan

New Orleans Saints

Signed: TE Mason Fairchild
Waived: DT Kyler Baugh

New York Giants

Signed: S Raheem Layne, S Jonathan Sutherland

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed: CB Zyon Gilbert, WR T.J. Luther
Reverted to IR: WR Tarik Black

San Francisco 49ers

Signed: DT Nick Williams
Released: LB Zeke Turner

Seattle Seahawks

Signed: LB Easton Gibbs
Waived (with injury designation): DT Nathan Pickering

Washington Commanders

Waived (with injury settlement): T Alex Akingbulu
Waived: G Mason Brooks

Cabral joins the Cowboys after UFL stints in Birmingham and Michigan. He adds more depth to the team’s offensive line after the team lost Chuma Edoga in their first preseason game and saw Earl Bostick helped off the field today. Toney suffered a groin injury, leading to this injury waiver, but could return to the team should he clear waivers.

Powers-Johnson was on some concerning ground with how much time he had missed with a concussion, but the Raiders saw him return to practice today.

The 49ers are adding some significant depth on the defensive line in Williams, who has vast starting experience in the NFL. Cutting Turner could mean that the return of Dre Greenlaw may on a better timeline than expected.

Chargers To Sign DT Nick Williams

May 18th, 2023 at 8:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Nick Williams will be sticking around the NFL for an 11th season. The defensive tackle is signing a one-year deal with the Chargers, per Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com. Free agent QB Chase Daniel, who spent the past two seasons in Los Angeles, was first with the news (on Twitter).

Williams, a 2015 seventh-round pick, took a bit to find his footing the NFL. He had his breakout season in 2019, when he compiled six sacks in 16 games (five starts) for the Bears. That performance earned him a two-year, $10MM deal from the Lions, and he proceeded to start 30 of his 31 appearances during his time in Detroit.

He caught on with the Giants for the 2022 campaign and ended up getting into eight games (seven starts) before landing on injured reserve with a biceps injury. He finished the season with 15 tackles and a pair of QB hits, and had he earned enough snaps to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings, he would have been listed as a middle-of-the-road interior defender.

In Los Angeles, the 33-year-old will be joining a DT/NT grouping that includes Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Otito Ogbonnia, and Chris Hinton. It shouldn’t take too long for Williams to get acclimated; he played under Chargers head coach Brandon Staley in Chicago.

Giants’ Aaron Robinson Unlikely To Return In 2022; DL Nick Williams Done For Year

November 8th, 2022 at 1:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Pegged to replace James Bradberry in the Giants’ starting lineup, Aaron Robinson has run into multiple issues that have prevented him from doing so for an extensive stretch. It appears the former third-round pick will need to wait a while to reprise his role.

Brian Daboll said Robinson is unlikely to come off injured reserve this season. Defensive lineman Nick Williams, who suffered a biceps injury in Week 9, received a more definitive timetable. Daboll said (via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, on Twitter) Williams is done for the season. The Giants have six injury activations remaining, but it appears other players will be considered for these spots during the second half and potentially into the playoffs.

After dangling Bradberry in trades through the draft, the Giants cut bait in May. This led to Bradberry joining the Eagles and the Giants holding a competition to determine his replacement opposite Adoree’ Jackson. Robinson, whom the Giants chose 71st overall out of Texas in 2021, earned the gig. But he has played in just two games this season.

An appendectomy sidelined Robinson after Week 1. When he returned in Week 4, this knee injury intervened 10 snaps into that game. The Giants have since turned to Fabian Moreau. Although the former Washington third-rounder has bounced around since his rookie contract expired following the 2020 season, he has held down the New York outside job this season.

Moreau played the 2021 season with the Falcons, being charged with a whopping eight touchdowns allowed that year, and his one-year Texans deal this offseason led to an August release. Moreau, 28, caught on with the Giants’ practice squad in late September. Well-versed as a boundary and slot corner, Moreau is allowing just 5.3 yards per target and a 47.4% completion rate; both are easily career-high marks. Should Moreau keep this up, this should earn him consideration to stick around beyond 2022. But cornerback figures to be a position of need in 2023.

Williams has been a starter for most of the season. The Giants added the 10th-year veteran on a league-minimum deal for no guaranteed money just before training camp. The former Steelers seventh-round pick had journeyed the league during his 20s but stabilized his career by becoming a Lions starter during the 2020 and ’21 seasons. Williams, 32, has made 15 tackles and deflected two passes during his first Big Blue season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/22

September 1st, 2022 at 6:08pm CST by Ben Levine

Teams continue to tinker with their rosters after hundreds of players were cut earlier this week. We’ve tracked all of today’s minor moves below:

Arizona Cardinals

Signed: TE Stephen Anderson, LS Aaron Brewer, CB Mike Ford, G Colby Gossett, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, S Dean Marlowe
Placed on IR: S Charles Washington, WR Antoine Wesley
Waived from IR: OL Greg Long

Atlanta Falcons

Signed: DT Abdullah Anderson,
Placed on IR: DL Marlon Davidson, TE John Fitzpatrick, LB Deion Jones, OL Jalen Mayfield, CB Isaiah Oliver

Baltimore Ravens

Waived from IR: DT Aaron Crawford

Chicago Bears

Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Placed on IR: WR N’Keal Harry

Cincinnati Bengals

Signed: WR Mike Thomas
Placed on IR: DE Khalid Kareem

Dallas Cowboys

Signed: DB C.J. Goodwin, LS Jake McQuaide
Placed on IR: OT Tyron Smith, WR James Washington

Denver Broncos

Signed: CB Darius Phillips, DT Mike Purcell, TE Eric Tomlinson
Released: DB Essang Bassey
Placed on IR: TE Greg Dulcich, CB Michael Ojemudia
Released from IR: CB Donnie Lewis

Green Bay Packers

Released from IR: WR Danny Davis

Indianapolis Colts

Placed on IR: LB Trevor Denbow

Jacksonville Jaguars

Claimed off waivers (from Bears): LB Caleb Johnson
Released: DL Adam Gotsis
Reverted to IR: K Jake Verity

Los Angeles Rams

Placed on IR: LB Daniel Hardy

Miami Dolphins

Placed on IR: S Clayton Fejedelem
Released from IR: CB Mackensie Alexander, DB D’Angelo Ross

New England Patriots

Placed on IR: WR Tyquan Thornton

New Orleans Saints

Signed: RB Dwayne Washington
Placed on IR: OT Trevor Penning, DL Malcolm Roach

New York Giants

Signed: LB Austin Calitro, TE Tanner Hudson, DL Nick Williams
Claimed off waivers (from Ravens): G Tyre Phillips
Placed on IR: OL Shane Lemieux, DE Elerson Smith, CB Rodarius Williams
Released from IR: TE Dre Miller, TE Ricky Seals-Jones

New York Jets

Signed: S Marcell Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers

Claimed off waivers (from Jaguars): LB Jamir Jones
Released: LB Derrek Tuszka

San Francisco 49ers

Signed: TE Tyler Kroft, DE Jordan Willis
Placed on IR: LB Curtis Robinson, S Jimmie Ward

Seattle Seahawks

Signed: CB Justin Coleman
Placed on IR: DL LJ Collier

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Placed on IR: C Ryan Jensen
Waived/injured: WR Cyril Grayson Jr.

Tennessee Titans

Signed: WR Cody Hollister
Placed on IR: WR Racey McMath

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC East

August 31st, 2022 at 2:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles and Giants moves are noted below.

Here are Wednesday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Dallas Cowboys

Signed to practice squad:

G Isaac Alarcon, T Aviante Collins, S Tyler Coyle, RB Malik Davis, WR Dontario Drummond, QB Will Grier, LB Malik Jefferson, C Alec Lindstrom, K Brett Maher, TE Sean McKeon, QB Cooper Rush, WR Brandon Smith, DE Mika Tafua, S Juanyeh Thomas, DT Carlos Watkins

New York Giants

Signed:

LB Austin Calitro, TE Tanner Hudson, DL Nick Williams

Released:

OL Max Garcia

Claimed:

G Jack Anderson (from Eagles), CB Justin Layne (from Steelers), DB Nick McCloud (from Bills), S Jason Pinnock (from Jets)

Placed on IR:

G Shane Lemieux, LB Elerson Smith, CB Rodarius Williams

Signed to practice squad:

DL Ryder Anderson, TE Austin Allen, WR C.J. Board, RB Jashaun Corbin, CB Darren Evans, OL Max Garcia, CB Zyon Gilbert, CB Harrison Hand, T Will Holden, T Roy Mbaeteka, OL Garrett McGhin, S Nate Meadors, WR Jaylon Moore, OLB Quincy Roche, S Trenton Thompson, QB Davis Webb, LB Chuck Wiley

Philadelphia Eagles

Claimed:

QB Ian Book (from Saints)

Waived:

LB Davion Taylor

Signed to practice squad:

WR Devon Allen, G/T Kayode Awosika, RB Kennedy Brooks, WR Deon Cain, S Andre Chachere, T Le’Raven Clark, WR Britain Covey, LB Christian Elliss, CB Mario Goodrich, S Anthony Harris, QB Reid Sinnett, TE Noah Togliai, OL Cameron Tom, DT Marvin Wilson

Washington Commanders

Released:

LB De’Jon Harris, LB David Mayo

Claimed:

DB Tariq Castro-Fields (from 49ers), DB Rachad Wildgoose (from Jets)

Waived:

LB De’Jon Harris

Placed on IR:

TE Curtis Hodges

Signed to practice squad:

T Alex Akingbulu, CB Troy Apke, DT David Bada, DE William Bradley-King, CB Corn Elder, WR Alex Erickson, S Ferrod Gardner, LB Khaleke Hudson, CB Danny Johnson, G Nolan Laufenberg, WR Kyric McGowan, WR Marken Michel, T Aaron Monteiro, RB Jaret Patterson, C Jon Toth

Giants To Sign DL Nick Williams

July 26th, 2022 at 8:56am CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants are set to add some experience to their front seven. New York is signing veteran defensive lineman Nick Williams, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).

Williams was a seventh-round pick of the Steelers in 2013, but it was with the Chiefs that he made his debut the following season. He wound up making 21 appearances in Kansas City before being claimed off waivers by the Dolphins in 2016. He followed up that brief Miami tenure with two seasons in Chicago.

It was with the Bears in 2019 that Williams registered the first five starts of his career. He parlayed that increased playing time into personal bests in tackles (42) and sacks (six). Those totals earned him a two-year, $10MM contract with the Lions during the subsequent offseason.

The Samford alum has been a full-time starter in Detroit for the past two seasons. After an underwhelming performance in 2020 relative to the previous campaign, he took a pay cut to remain in the fold for 2021. With the Lions turning to younger options along their defensive line, they elected not to re-sign the 32-year-old this offseason.

In New York, Williams will join a d-line led by Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence and Justin Ellis. Given his snap share over the past three years (between 50% and 56%), the six-foot-four, 310-pounder will be capable of shouldering a rotational role, but also starting reps if need be. Per Garafolo, the Giants are waiving UDFA Jabari Ellis to make room for the Williams addition.

Lions Agree To Terms With DL Nick Williams

March 17th, 2020 at 11:19am CST by Ben Levine

Nick Williams is heading to a division rival. The former Bears defensive lineman is signing with the Lions, reports SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).

The 2013 seventh-round pick has put together a seven-year career, including a recent two-year stint with Chicago. His 2019 season proved to be the best of his career, as he set career-highs in games (16), starts (five), tackles (42), and sacks (six). In total, the 30-year-old has appeared in 44 career regular season games with the Bears, Dolphins, and Chiefs.

The Lions defense is seeing a bit of a makeover. Yesterday, the team agreed to terms with former Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/19

March 15th, 2019 at 10:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

Re-signed: DL Nick Williams

Cleveland Browns

Re-signed: CB Phillip Gaines

Los Angeles Chargers

Signed exclusive rights free agent tender: DL Isaac Rochell

Oakland Raiders

Re-signed: OL Chaz Green
Signed ERFA tender: LB Jason Cabinda

Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC North

September 2nd, 2018 at 3:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC North 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 Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings 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 North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day: