2015 September - Pro Football Rumors

Cowboys Cut A.J. Jenkins, Down To 53 Players

September 5th, 2015 at 5:23pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cowboys have announced their Saturday roster moves, paring down from 75 players to 53 in preparation for the regular season. One of the players waived today by the Cowboys was former first-round wideout A.J. Jenkins, who signed with the team earlier in the offseason. With failed stops in San Francisco, Kansas City, and Dallas now under his belt, Jenkins’ NFL opportunities are likely running out.

Here are the players removed from Dallas’ active roster today, per a team release:

Waived:

QB Dustin Vaughan
QB Jameill Showers
RB Gus Johnson
RB Ben Malena
FB Ray Agnew
WR Clyde Gates
WR Nick Harwell
WR A.J. Jenkins
T Laurence Gibson
T John Wetzel
C Shane McDermott
C Ronald Patrick
DE Ben Gardner
DE Efe Obada
LB Donnie Baggs
LB Dakorey Johnson
CB Joel Ross
S Tim Scott

Waived/injured:

LB Ka’Lial Glaud
CB Rod Sweeting

Reserve/suspended:

DE Greg Hardy
LB Rolando McClain

Meanwhile, Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram weighs in on rumors from earlier in the day that linked running back Jonas Gray to the Cowboys. According to Williams (via Twitter), the Cowboys didn’t have interest in trading for Gray, but could be interested now that he has been cut by the Pats. The young back will become a free agent tomorrow unless he’s claimed on waivers or signs to a practice squad.

Dolphins Pare Roster Down To 53

September 5th, 2015 at 5:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins removed 20 players from their roster in order to reach the mandated 53-man limit, with the most notable of the team’s releases coming at kicker.

Caleb Sturgis will not begin a third season as the Dolphins’ kicker, as Andrew Franks won competition for the spot, according to the team’s website.

In going with rookie undrafted free agent Franks over Sturgis, a third-year veteran, it marks the first time in eight years Miami will deploy two new specialists. Rookie Matt Darr supplanted eight-year punter Brandon Fields, a 2013 Pro Bowler, earlier this week.

Sturgis missed eight kicks in each of his two campaigns.

Miami’s additional cuts are as follows:

Damarr Aultman, WR
McLeod Bethel-Thompson, QB
Sam Brenner, C
Deandre Coleman, DT
James Davidson, LB
Emmanuel Dieke, DE
Mike Gillislee, RB
Cobi Hamilton, WR
Donald Hawkins, T
Mike Hull, LB
Anthony Johnson, DT
Christion Jones, WR (Waived/injured)
Don Jones, S
Mike Liedtke, G/T
Jeff Luc, LB
Jordan Tripp, LB
Cedric Thompson, S
Jake Stoneburner, TE
Tim Semisch, TE
Aundrey Walker, T

Seahawks Confirm McCray Trade, Set Roster

September 5th, 2015 at 5:05pm CST by Luke Adams

The Seahawks have confirmed one of their two recently-reported acquisitions, announcing that they’ve traded for safety Kelcie McCray, sending a fifth-round draft pick to the Chiefs in the swap, as we heard earlier. According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter), the deal for McCray is a public sign of what the team has privately told Kam Chancellor: Seattle isn’t willing to negotiate with him.

We’re still awaiting official word on Seattle’s reported agreement with running back Fred Jackson, so an additional cut will be required when that move is finalized. For now though, the Seahawks are down to 53 players. Via a team release, here’s how they got there:

Released:

CB Will Blackmon
TE Anthony McCoy

Waived:

LB Tyrell Adams
TE Rashaun Allen
QB R.J. Archer
DE Obum Gwacham
S Keenan Lambert
S Ronald Martin
DT T.Y. McGill
CB Douglas McNeil
OL Keavon Milton
S Ryan Murphy
OL Will Pericak
LB Eric Pinkins
OL Terry Poole
LB Alex Singleton
WR Kevin Smith
RB Rod Smith
DE Julius Warmsley
WR Kasen Williams

Placed on injured reserve:

CB Mohammed Seisay
RB Robert Turbin

Placed on reserve/non-football illness list:

DT Jesse Williams

Texans Trim Roster To 53 Players

September 5th, 2015 at 4:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Warning: Hard Knocks spoilers ahead. The Texans finalized their initial regular season roster today, announcing several cuts and other transactions in order to get down from 75 players to 53. In addition to cutting defensive tackle Louis Nix, defensive tackle Brandon Deaderick, and wide receiver Damaris Johnson (as we heard yesterday), and placing quarterback Tom Savage on injured reserve (as we heard today), the club made the following moves, per a press release:

Waived:

OLB Kourtnei Brown
ILB Max Bullough
S Kurtis Drummond
T Matt Feiler
C James Ferentz
DE Tevita Finau
RB Kenny Hilliard
CB Charles James
S Corey Moore
WR EZ Nwachukwu
DE Dan Pettinato
T Joseph Treadwell
WR Chandler Worthy

Released:

DE Fili Moala

Waived/injured:

OLB Lynden Trail
OLB Tony Washington

Placed on injured reserve:

G Chad Slade

Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweeted earlier today that the Texans were exploring trade scenarios involving cornerbacks Jumal Rolle and Charles James. James showed up on the list above as having been cut, so it’s clear Houston didn’t find a trade partner there. For now, Rolle remains on the team’s roster.

Meanwhile, another’s team’s roster casualty, veteran quarterback Matt Cassel, could be an option for Houston, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Cassel and Texans head coach Bill O’Brien were in New England at the same time, and with Savage landing on IR, Houston is in the market for an insurance policy at quarterback behind Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett.

Chiefs Deal Kelcie McCray To Seahawks, Set Roster

September 5th, 2015 at 4:27pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chiefs announced 22 roster moves today, and one of them was of particular interest — according to a team release, the club sent safety Kelcie McCray to the Seahawks in a trade for an undisclosed draft pick. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com fills in the details, tweeting that Kansas City gets a fifth-rounder in the deal.

Recent reports had suggested that Seattle was seeking depth at its safety position, with Kam Chancellor still holding out and Earl Thomas returning from a serious injury. In McCray, the Seahawks get a solid backup who primarily served as a special-teamer last season for the Chiefs.

Here are Kansas City’s 21 other moves that get the tea down from a 75-man roster to just 53 players:

Cut:

WR Da’Ron Brown
DE Mike Catapano
S Sanders Commings
LB Ja’Gared Davis
DT Hebron Fangupo
C Garrett Frye
DL David Irving
LB James-Michael Johnson
C Eric Kush
WR Donatella Luckett
C Daniel Munyer
DB Deji Olatoye
G Jarrod Pughsley
RB Darrin Reaves
DB Kevin Short
T Derek Sherrod
TE Ryan Taylor
FB Spencer Ware
WR Fred Williams

Placed on injured reserve:

TE Richard Gordon

Reserve/suspended:

CB Sean Smith

Giants, Seahawks Discussing Kam Chancellor

September 5th, 2015 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Stricken with injuries at safety, the Giants are setting their sights on one of the game’s best.

The Giants engaged in discussions with the Seahawks about a trade for Kam Chancellor, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com reports. Chancellor’s missed all of the Seahawks’ preseason work due to a contentious holdout.

Raanan points out a deal for the 27-year-old Chancellor would likely cost the Giants two high draft choices.

While the need is there and the player would certainly fill it, the Seahawks are not exactly clamoring to trade their strong safety. The Giants and other teams have asked about Chancellor but have been told he’s not getting traded, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano (Twitter link).

Continuing the impasse, the Seahawks haven’t granted their disgruntled safety permission to speak with other teams, according to CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora (on Twitter).

We heard earlier today the Seahawks are exploring trades for veteran safeties, with the availability of its own in question. Earl Thomas is expected to play soon but is coming off a serious shoulder malady.

Unhappy with the four-year, $28MM deal he signed in 2013, Chancellor has been reported to be “dug in” on his holdout, which could increase Seattle’s efforts to facilitate a trade unless it wants to set a precedent of surrendering cash with this much time left on a deal.

The Seahawks have signed many of their holdovers in recent years and could set course down a slippery slope if they appease Chancellor.

Big Blue’s lost four safeties — Mykkele Thompson, Nat Berhe, Justin Currie and Bennett Jackson — to season-ending injuries, and Landon Collins sprained his MCL during preseason play. The Giants signed Brandon Merriweather and Stevie Brown as bandaids at this position.

Jaguars Finalize Active Roster

September 5th, 2015 at 4:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sen’Derrick Marks avoided the physically unable to perform list to start the season when the Jaguars moved him to their active roster. The team also cut its roster down to 53 players, writes John Oehser of Jaguars.com.

The Jags’ leading sacker last season, Marks spent the preseason on the PUP list after tearing his ACL in Week 17 of last season.

Accompanying Jacksonville’s cuts, the team placed Ziggy Hood on injured reserve.

The Jaguars’ cuts are as follows:

Richard Ash, DT
Nordly Capi, DE
Kasey Closs, WR
Will Corbin, OL
Jeremiah George, LB
Connor Hamlett, TE
Jeremy Harris, CB
Ikponmwosa Igbinosun, DE
Storm Johnson, RB
Ben Koyack, TE
Erik Lora, WR
Craig Loston, S
Stephen Morris, QB
Austin Pasztor, OL
Chris Reed, G
Rashaad Reynolds, CB
Neal Sterling, WR
Todd Thomas, LB
Peyton Thompson, CB
Tony Washington, WR

Giants Trim Roster To 53 Players

September 5th, 2015 at 4:08pm CST by Luke Adams

The Giants have been one of the more interesting teams to watch, as cuts are made from 75 players to 53 — New York released several notable veteran players, including wide receiver James Jones, fullback Henry Hynoski, punter Steve Weatherford, and linebackers Jameel McClain and Ashlee Palmer.

In a press release today, the club confirmed those moves, along with the decision to place safety Nat Berhe on injured reserve, and announced the rest of the transactions made to get the roster down to 53 players. Here are those moves:

Released:

CB Chykie Brown
S Jeromy Miles

Waived:

DL Brad Bars
K Chris Boswell
OL Emmett Cleary
DB C.J. Conway
OL Sean Donnelly
LB Cole Farrand
DB Chandler Fenner
OL Adam Gettis
DL Dominique Hamilton
RB Kenneth Harper
TE Adrien Robinson
WR Julian Talley

Waived/injured:

WR Corey Washington (shoulder)

Placed on injured reserve:

OL Brett Jones (knee)

Panthers Organize Regular-Season Roster

September 5th, 2015 at 3:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers cut 22 players to officially reduce their roster to 53, reports Max Henson of Panthers.com.

In addition to placing rookie defensive end Arthur Miley on injured reserve and reaching an injury settlement with offensive lineman Brian Folkerts, the Panthers cut Jordan Todman. This leaves Fozzy Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne as Jonathan Stewart‘s primary backups.

The remaining Carolina cuts are as follows:

Chas Alecxih, DT
Marcus Ball, S
Brenton Bersin, WR
Brian Blechen, LB
Mike Brown, WR
Carrington Byndom, CB
Damiere Byrd, WR
Rakim Cox, DE
David Foucault, T
Adarius Glanton, LB
T.J. Heath, CB
Ricky Henry, G
Marcus Lucas, TE
Jordan McCray, G
Terry Redden, DT
Scott Simonson, TE
Jason Trusnik, LB
Martin Wallace, T
Lou Young, CB

Browns Keep West, Pryor On 53-Man Roster

September 5th, 2015 at 3:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The Browns have announced their roster moves for the day, and two offensive players who were viewed as potential release – or trade – candidates have made the cut — running back Terrance West and quarterback-turned-wide-receiver Terrelle Pryor are still members of the Browns.

Cleveland has also confirmed that quarterbacks Thad Lewis and Pat Devlin have been cut, meaning Johnny Manziel looks poised to enter the year healthy enough to be Josh McCown‘s backup.

Here’s the Browns’ full list of moves, via a team release:

Waived:

OL Karim Barton
RB Shaun Draughn
DB Landon Feichter
RB Tim Flanders
DB Kendall James
WR Darius Jennings
OL Erle Ladson
WR Josh Lenz
WR Vince Mayle
DL Jacobbi McDaniel
OL Andrew McDonald
OL Darrian Miller
DB Robert Nelson
OL Vinston Painter
LB Hayes Pullard III
DB Joe Rankin
LB Mike Reilly
DB De’Ante Saunders
DL Dylan Wynn

Released:

OL Eric Olsen