HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Panthers Shopping WR Seth Roberts

September 5th, 2020 at 1:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Seth Roberts may have survived final cuts, but it sounds like the Panthers wideout might not last that long on the roster. Joe Person of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that the veteran receiver is available via trade.

The 2014 undrafted free agent out of Alabama has put together a solid career, and he only missed a pair of regular season games for the Raiders between 2015 and 2018. Following a 2019 campaign with the Ravens that saw him haul in a career-low 21 receptions, Roberts signed with the Panthers back in March.

With a wideout corps that’s led by the likes of D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Curtis Samuel, it’s a bit surprising that the Panthers aren’t eager to stick with the 29-year-old Roberts. The veteran has shown that he can be a reliable target; between 2015 and 2018, Roberts averaged 39.5 receptions, 456.5 receiving yards, and 3.3 touchdowns per season.

Considering how many NFL teams are desperate for wideout help, it wouldn’t be shocking if Roberts ends up getting dealt, although his $3.75MM salary could end up being a hurdle.

Panthers Reduce Roster To 53

September 5th, 2020 at 12:52pm CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers are the first team of the day to officially get down to 53 players. The team’s moves are below:

Waived:

Released:

One of the most notable names on the list is Bonnafon, who has been with the organization since 2018. The running back appeared in 16 games last season, rushing for 116 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries. He also hauled in six receptions for 57 yards.

Of course, considering that the NFL was expanded practice squads to 16 players for the 2020 campaign, there’s a good chance that Bonnafon (along with several other players on this list) end up being retained by the organization.

Eagles Cut CB Rasul Douglas

September 5th, 2020 at 12:52pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Eagles’ overhaul of their secondary is continuing. Just moments after it was reported they were cutting cornerback Sidney Jones, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted that they were axing fellow corner Rasul Douglas.

Like Jones, Douglas started a handful of games last year, but apparently didn’t have a role in this new-look unit that acquired guys like Darius Slay and Nickell Robey-Coleman this offseason. Douglas was a third-round pick back in 2017, and he started at least five games in all three of his seasons with the team. He won Super Bowl LII as a rookie, although he didn’t see any time at corner in that game.

The West Virginia product was always up and down, and the Eagles clearly want to start fresh in the back half of their defense. The secondary has been a consistent issue the past couple of years, although certainly Douglas can’t be blamed for all of it.

He just turned 25 last week, and with his starting experience should be signed pretty soon by a team in need of corner help. He had 10 passes defended last year, with three interceptions the year before.

Eagles Cut CB Sidney Jones, DE Shareef Miller

September 5th, 2020 at 12:42pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Eagles are making a couple of very notable cuts as they trim down to 53. Philadelphia has let go of cornerback Sidney Jones and defensive end Shareef Miller, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (Twitter links).

Jones has had some tough luck. A surefire first-round pick in 2017 out of Washington, he tore his Achilles at his pro day and ended up falling to the 43rd pick where the Eagles scooped him up. He did win a Super Bowl with the team that year, although he was inactive for the playoffs and only played in the Week 17 finale. He went on to appear in 21 and start eight games over the past two years, but could never quite recover to his pre-injury form.

He also dealt with additional health issues, missing time due to hamstring injuries in each of the past two seasons. The fact he couldn’t ever establish himself in Philly’s frequently woeful secondaries may have been a red flag.

Miller was drafted in the fourth-round just last year. It’s clear they never felt great about picking the Penn State product, as he appeared in only one game as a rookie. Both players could be candidates for the practice squad should they clear waivers.

Colts Waive K Chase McLaughlin

September 5th, 2020 at 12:42pm CST by Ben Levine

It looks like Rodrigo Blankenship will be the Colts starting kicker in 2020. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that Indianapolis has waived kicker Chase McLaughlin.

Indy has been hunting for their first kicker in the post-Adam Vinatieri era, and there was some hope that it could end up being the 24-year-old McLaughlin. The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Illinois ended up seeing time with five different teams (Bills, Vikings, Chargers, 49ers, and Colts) as a rookie, and he saw playing time for those latter three teams.

In total, McLaughlin appeared in 11 games last season, connecting on 18 of his 23 field goal attempts. In fact, he was perfect in all nine of his attempts from inside the 40, and he also connected on his three field goals of 50+ yards, but he struggled from 40-49 yards out (5 for 10). McLaughlin also converted all 26 of his extra point tries.

Back in April, “Hot Rod” Blankenship joined the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia. The kicker earned a number of honors during his collegiate career, including a First-Team All-SEC nod in 2019.

Jaguars Cut QBs Mike Glennon, Joshua Dobbs

September 5th, 2020 at 12:32pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars are moving on from a pair of backup quarterback contenders. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Jacksonville is cutting Mike Glennon and Joshua Dobbs.

This means rookie sixth-rounder Jake Luton is currently the only quarterback on the depth chart behind starter Gardner Minshew. However, as Rapoport notes, the team could end up inviting back one of Glennon or Dobbs based on how the final roster “shakes out.”

The 30-year-old Glennon seemed like a natural choice to backup Minshew. However, it’s been almost seven years since the veteran got an extended look as a starter. Glennon spent the 2018 season with the Cardinals and 2019 season with the Raiders, appearing in four total games. During those cameos, Glennon completed 21 of his 31 pass attempts for 230 yards and two scores. In total, the former third rounder has appeared in 29 games (22 starts), tossing 36 touchdowns vs. 20 interceptions.

Dobbs, 25, spent the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Steelers, including a 2018 campaign where he completed six of his 12 pass attempts for 43 yards and one pick in five games. He was traded to Jacksonville last September for a 2020 fifth-rounder following an injury to Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles. Of course, Minshew stepped up as the starter, and Dobbs never got into a game with Jacksonville.

Jaguars To Place CB Tramaine Brock On IR

September 5th, 2020 at 12:32pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Jacksonville youth movement continues to plow full steam ahead. The Jaguars will place cornerback Tramaine Brock on injured reserve and end his season, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic (Twitter link).

The long-time veteran was one of very few older players on the hollowed-out roster. The Jags have completely stripped down the team, especially the defense, over the past year. The secondary is going to look completely unrecognizable after former starters Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye were both traded within the last year.

Jacksonville is expected to start rookie first-round pick C.J. Henderson and 24-year-old Tre Herndon on the outside. They’re being thrown into the fire without much help around them. Brock has bounced around the league in recent years, spending time with six different teams over the past four seasons.

The 2010 UDFA spent the first seven years of his career in San Francisco, becoming a reliable starter with the 49ers and landing a couple of decent paydays. He started seven games with the Cardinals last year and four with the Titans, also starting during Tennessee’s run to the AFC Championship Game. He turned 32 last month.

Bills Cut WR Duke Williams

September 5th, 2020 at 12:20pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

As the Bills shed down to 53 they’ve made a difficult cut, letting receiver Duke Williams go, according to Dan Fetes of ABC 13 WHAM (Twitter link).

Williams originally entered the league as an UDFA with the Rams back in 2016. After being waived by them he latched on with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL, spending the next couple of seasons in Canada. He signed with Buffalo early in 2019, impressing in camp but getting released at final cuts.

He was brought back on the practice squad and then promoted, playing three games before suffering a shoulder injury. He came back in Week 17 with the team resting starters, catching six passes for 108 yards. A camp and preseason star, many Bills fans grew fond of the Auburn product. He should resurface soon, quite likely on Buffalo’s practice squad if no other team scoops him up first.

Raiders Release DL Chris Smith

September 5th, 2020 at 12:19pm CST by Ben Levine

Despite signing with the Raiders in late August, Chris Smith is once again a free agent. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Las Vegas has released the veteran defensive lineman.

The 2014 fifth-round pick out of Arkansas spent the first three seasons of his career with the Jaguars, but he’s bounced around a bit since. After spending the 2017 campaign with the Bengals, Smith spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the Browns. He signed with the Panthers earlier this offseason, but he was cut by the organization in late July. He caught on with the Raiders a few weeks later.

In total, the 28-year-old has seen time in 60 regular season games (two starts), compiling 67 tackles and 8.5 sacks. His 2017 and 2018 seasons proved to be two of the best of his career, as he averaged 15.5 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumbles per year.

Clelin Ferrell, Maxx Crosby, Carl Nassib, Arden Key seemed to be locked in at defensive end for the Raiders, so it wasn’t going to be easy for Smith to make the roster.

Seahawks Cut OLB Shaquem Griffin

September 5th, 2020 at 12:11pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Shaquem Griffin‘s time in Seattle has come to an end, for now. The outside linebacker was cut by the Seahawks Saturday, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports (Twitter link).

Since he was still on his rookie contract Griffin will now go on waivers and have a chance to be claimed by the other 31 teams. The UCF product was a fifth-round pick back in 2018. A true inspiration, Griffin had his left hand amputated when he was four and defied all odds to make it to the NFL.

He’s also the twin brother of Seahawks starting cornerback Shaquill Griffin. He played around nine percent of the defensive snaps last season while also playing a big role on special teams. It’s quite possible that the Seahawks will look to bring Griffin back on the practice squad if he clears waivers. This surely isn’t the last we’ve heard of him.

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