HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

LB Christian Kirksey To Join Bills’ P-Squad

August 30th, 2023 at 1:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joining Desmond King as an experienced defender cut by the Texans this week, Christian Kirksey will also resurface in the AFC. After King agreed to terms with the Steelers, Kirksey will head to Buffalo.

The Bills are adding the veteran linebacker to their practice squad, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Buffalo will be Kirksey’s fourth team. With Tremaine Edmunds departing for a lucrative Bears deal in free agency, Kirksey’s experience could be important for the Bills. But they do have several young linebackers in place alongside Matt Milano.

Buffalo kept eight off-ball linebackers on its active roster, a rather high number. Third-round picks Dorian Williams (2023) and Terrel Bernard (2022) and 2022 seventh-rounder Baylon Specter join fifth-year defender Tyrel Dodson, Travin Howard and veterans A.J. Klein and Tyler Matakevich.

Signing with the Texans during Nick Caserio’s first year running the team, Kirksey started 29 games with the rebuilding squad. His presence was a bit out of place on a rebuilding team, but Caserio has preferred to stock the Texans with midlevel veterans on short-term deals during his early years as GM. But Houston added a few linebackers this offseason, including Denzel Perryman, leading the former Browns third-rounder off the roster.

Kirksey, who will turn 31 on Friday, has 94 starts on his resume. The Browns gave him an eight-figure-per-year extension back in 2017 but cut bait in 2020, leading to a Packers one-off. Kirksey profiles as an insurance option for a Bills team set to rely on inexperienced linebackers alongside Milano.

LB Jaylon Smith Joins Saints’ Practice Squad

August 30th, 2023 at 12:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 30: The veteran linebacker, indeed, will not be leaving New Orleans. His plus preseason cameo will lead to a spot on the Saints’ practice squad, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

AUGUST 29: While Jaylon Smith had impressed since signing with the Saints earlier this month, he will not be part of the team’s 53-man roster today. New Orleans will release the veteran linebacker, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football tweets.

Smith retains practice squad eligibility, with teams having up to six spots to give to vested veterans on those 16-man units. Teams will begin assembling their P-squads soon. It will be interesting to see if Smith winds up back with the Saints ahead of Week 1, but for now, the former Cowboys starter is a free agent again.

Teams also commonly release vested veterans for guarantee purposes, as these players’ salaries become guaranteed days before Week 1, or to protect a younger player from being exposed to waivers. With Alvin Kamara set to be moved off the roster — due to the three-game suspension he recently received — at least one spot will soon be open.

Spending last season with the Giants, Smith worked out for the Raiders earlier this summer. But he landed with the Saints on August 10. A special teams role for Smith appeared on the Saints’ radar, and that may still be the case. Demario Davis and Pete Werner lead New Orleans’ linebacking corps, with 2020 third-rounder Zack Baun still in the mix as well.

Since the Cowboys cut bait on Smith’s six-year extension in 2021, he has bounced around. He spent the ’21 season with three teams — the Cowboys, Packers and Giants — but found some footing in New York. The Giants circled back to Smith, via a September 2022 signing, and used him as an 11-game starter. The Giants did not feature especially good inside linebacker play last season, and they have since added Bobby Okereke and Isaiah Simmons.

The Saints have been busy with veterans today. They informed Bradley Roby of a release and traded longtime kicker Wil Lutz to the Broncos, reuniting him with Sean Payton.

K Cade York To Land On Titans’ P-Squad

August 30th, 2023 at 12:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Titans have shaken up their kicker situation this week. Following a trade for veteran Nick Folk, Tennessee will take a flier on a former top kicker prospect.

Cade York is joining the Titans’ practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Browns waived York after preseason struggles. No one claimed the LSU alum, leading him to a P-squad destination.

Recent seasons have brought some injury trouble for the Titans, but they released their primary option — Randy Bullock — in a February salary purge. The Titans then cut Caleb Shudak, Trey Wolff and Michael Badgley during the preseason. York is now in place as an emergency option behind Folk, who is going into his age-39 season.

The first kicker chosen in 2022, York did not impress in Cleveland. He did make a 58-yard game-winner to lift the Browns past the Panthers in his first NFL outing, but the decorated college kicker ended his rookie year just 24 of 32. During the preseason, York missed three field goals — one in each Browns game — and the AFC North team decided to bring in more experience by trading for Dustin Hopkins.

The 2020 season, when Stephen Gostkowski‘s injury led to the Titans using several kickers, showed the value an emergency in-house option can provide. As Folk begins his 17th NFL season, Tennessee will attempt to rebuild York’s stock.

Browns, OL Alex Leatherwood Agree To Practice Squad Deal

August 30th, 2023 at 12:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Barely two years after becoming a surprise first-round pick, Alex Leatherwood has been waived by two teams. The Bears joined the Raiders in bailing on the Alabama alum, dropping him earlier this week.

The Browns will attempt to salvage the former No. 17 overall pick. Leatherwood is joining Cleveland’s practice squad, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. This will be Leatherwood’s third team in three seasons, though he is no longer attached to the first-round contract that went from Las Vegas to Chicago.

Despite his extensive struggles to translate his game to the NFL, Leatherwood started all 17 games — at right tackle and right guard — for a playoff-bound Raiders team as a rookie. After Jon Gruden’s staff moved Leatherwood from tackle to guard quickly, Josh McDaniels’ group shifted him back to tackle during his second NFL offseason. Leatherwood did not show enough to impress the McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regime, which waived him after failed trade efforts.

A mononucleosis bout began Leatherwood’s Bears tenure on a down note, and he only ended up playing in four games (32 offensive snaps). The Browns have a set offensive line, one of the game’s best, and employ top-line O-line coach Bill Callahan. The former Raiders HC has settled back into a role as an O-line instructor. Callahan turned down the chance to interview for the Jets’ OC position this offseason, and the longtime assistant will attempt what could be a difficult reclamation project with Leatherwood.

Colts To Add S Ronnie Harrison, DE Al-Quadin Muhammad To Practice Squad

August 30th, 2023 at 12:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two of the veterans the Colts released Tuesday remain in the team’s plans. Ronnie Harrison and Al-Quadin Muhammad are staying with the team on practice squad agreements, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Each a vested veteran who avoided a crowded waiver wire, Harrison and Muhammad could be back on Indianapolis’ active roster soon. These agreements may represent preludes for the safety and defensive end, respectively, to rejoin Gus Bradley’s defense.

Teams can roster up to six vested vets on their 16-man P-squads, but since the league expanded its taxi squads in 2020, they have served as frequent way stations for veterans. Harrison would make sense as a ramp-up player, having only signed with the Colts in mid-August. A former Colts starting defensive end, Muhammad rejoined the team during the offseason.

Muhammad, 28, registered six sacks as a Colts starter in 2021. The team used first- and second-round picks on defensive ends that year — Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo — and needed veteran support after not re-signing Justin Houston. Muhammad parlayed that performance into a Bears agreement, rejoining Matt Eberflus. Chicago cut bait on that contract this offseason, however. Muhammad made nine starts with the Bears last year but totaled just one sack in 16 games.

Using three-safety sets frequently, the Browns deployed Harrison often. The five-year veteran made 23 starts in Cleveland, coming to Ohio after a 22-start run in Jacksonville. The Browns added Rodney McLeod this offseason, bringing over a 2022 Colts starter. Indy has Julian Blackmon going into a contract year and has 2022 draftees Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas as options to succeed McLeod.

Bailey Zappe, Malik Cunningham To Join Pats’ Practice Squad

August 30th, 2023 at 11:48am CST by Adam La Rose

AUGUST 30: The Patriots will retain Zappe, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who reports the second-year passer will be part of New England’s practice squad. Ditto Cunningham, who will make this a rare two-quarterback P-squad, Schefter adds. Though, Cunningham could certainly be used in myriad capacities. While the Pats are still on the hunt for a veteran option, they will attempt to continue developing the former record-setting Western Kentucky QB.

AUGUST 29: For the second straight day, the Patriots have parted with a depth quarterback. Bailey Zappe has been waived, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The same is true of rookie UDFA Malik Cunningham, notes colleague Tom Pelissero.

These moves certainly constitute more of a surprise than New England’s decision to cut Trace McSorley yesterday. The latter was in line to sit no higher than third on the QB depth chart, and the Patriots – like many other teams around the league – appeared set to carry only two passers on their active roster. They will do so, but for at least the time being it remains to be seen who their backup will be come Week 1.

With McSorley, Zappe and Cunningham all off the roster, New England’s QB room currently begins and ends with Mac Jones. The latter is in place as the undisputed starter – after head coach Bill Belichick notably declined to confirm that over the course of an offseason in which tension between the two was widely publicized. Any further moves at the position will now be worth watching closely.

Jones regressed in 2022 after New England entrusted Matt Patricia and Joe Judge with leading the team’s offense. That pair has been replaced by Bill O’Brien, whose return to the organization has led to expectations for improvement from Jones individually and the passing game as a whole. Zappe would have been expected to remain a part of that process, though that could still be the case if he goes unclaimed and resorts to the practice squad.

The 2022 fourth-rounder made four appearances (and a pair of starts) during his rookie campaign, drawing praise for his performances and posting a 2-0 record. A controversy briefly appeared to exist between Zappe and Jones, a 2021 first-rounder. The latter finished out the campaign, though, and he will carry on in the starter’s role to begin an important campaign which will go a long way in determining his future in the organization.

Cunningham played quarterback at Louisville, producing sizeable numbers in the run game in particular. He went undrafted, but secured a notable guarantee from the Patriots to head to New England as a developmental prospect. The 24-year-old spent time as a receiver in training camp, and his success in the summer seemed to assure him of a roster spot in some capacity. The decision to move on from McSorley pointed toward Cunningham having a better chance at the QB3 spot, but that is now in question.

The Patriots will likely be aiming to sneak Zappe through waivers, but such a strategy with a recent draftee carries a notable degree of risk. An outside addition could be coming as well – one would become necessary if both Zappe and Cunningham were to be claimed – so New England will remain a team to watch at quarterback position. On that point, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes that the Patriots hope to retain Zappe, while Colt McCoy (who was surprisingly released by the Cardinals yesterday) is a veteran on their radar.

Texans’ Reserve QBs Drawing Trade Interest

August 30th, 2023 at 11:26am CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Texans’ Case Keenum signing appeared to place Davis Mills in limbo, the two-year starter took first-team reps this offseason and landed on Houston’s 53-man roster. With the team moving to C.J. Stroud for Week 1, interest in both backups has emerged.

Teams have contacted the Texans on their two backup quarterbacks, Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes. But Houston’s plan for now is to keep both Keenum and Mills on its roster. The Texans gave Keenum a two-year, $6.25MM deal; two years remain on Mills’ rookie contract.

The Keenum addition undoubtedly led to the Mills trade rumors earlier this year, but the Texans’ stance at that point was to retain the former third-round pick. Stroud will unseat Mills, who is 5-19-1 as a starter (albeit on some undermanned teams), and Keenum would seem to represent both a mentor and a capable backup. Mills, 24, would be an interesting flier for a team to take. Even if the Texans are open to moving the Stanford alum, no viable offer has emerged.

Two teams who could be interested reside in the AFC East. The Patriots made the surprising choice to waive Bailey Zappe on Tuesday. The 2022 fourth-rounder had generated momentum to potentially even challenge Mac Jones for his job this offseason; no realistic challenge occurred. As of now, Jones is the only QB on New England’s active roster. That will not be the case for too much longer, and the Patriots are believed to be targeting Colt McCoy. Indeed, a veteran QB2 is preferred, per the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi.

Meanwhile, the Bills placed Matt Barkley on IR on Tuesday, removing him from their regular-season equation. Buffalo rosters only Kyle Allen, who spent most of last season backing up Mills in Houston, behind Josh Allen. Keenum spent the 2022 season in Buffalo, but the Houston alum agreed to terms with the Texans — his original NFL team — on Day 1 of the legal tampering period.

Broncos Plan To Sign WR Phillip Dorsett

August 30th, 2023 at 11:06am CST by Sam Robinson

11:06am: This will instead be a practice squad agreement, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Waivers processed at 11am CT; teams can now begin assembling their taxi squads.

10:08am: The Broncos will again enter a season without their optimal receiving corps available. Tim Patrick will miss a second straight season, while KJ Hamler is off the roster. Denver’s top target, Jerry Jeudy, is likely to miss early-season time due to a hamstring injury.

While the team does not plan to move Jeudy to IR on Wednesday, it will reinforce its receiving corps with a depth piece. The Broncos intend to sign Phillip Dorsett, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Dorsett did not make the Raiders’ 53-man roster, being released Tuesday.

This Denver receiving nucleus has struggled to stay healthy since its inception in 2020. While Jeudy could return as early as September, Courtland Sutton represents the Broncos’ top receiver. The team will likely need to give substantial playing time to rookie Marvin Mims, who began training camp as a likely backup behind a Jeudy-Sutton-Patrick trio. The Broncos had been expected to re-sign Lil’Jordan Humphrey after cutting him Tuesday. It is unclear if the team plans to add both he and Dorsett.

A former first-round Colts pick, Dorsett never lived up to his draft slot. After making next to no impact from 2020-21, Dorsett did resurface as part of the Texans’ receiving corps last season. He caught 20 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown. The Broncos are surely targeting the 30-year-old wideout as a depth piece, but with Mims a rookie and no clear No. 3 target in place while Jeudy is down, Dorsett could conceivably play a role on offense for Sean Payton‘s team.

Dorsett and Russell Wilson were teammates with the Seahawks in 2021, but the former played in just two games with Seattle and caught one pass.

Vikings To Sign RB Myles Gaskin, Waive WR Jalen Reagor

August 30th, 2023 at 8:28am CST by Sam Robinson

Joining Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert in re-signing with the Dolphins, Myles Gaskin became the odd man out. Given the lack of guarantees in his contract, this was a predictable development. But Gaskin will have another chance soon.

The Vikings are expected to sign the veteran running back to their 53-man roster, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. This will reunite Gaskin with ex-Dolphins HC Brian Flores, who became the Vikes’ defensive coordinator this offseason.

Minnesota completed a drawn-out separation with Dalvin Cook, and while the Dolphins initially loomed as the most likely suitor, they stood down. Miami still kept other backs (Wilson, Mostert, Salvon Ahmed, third-rounder Devon Achane, UDFA Chris Brooks) over Gaskin, who played with the team for four seasons. Cook’s Minnesota exit leaves Alexander Mattison atop the NFC North club’s RB depth chart. Gaskin will make his case to be a contributor on a second NFL team.

Rather than create a roster spot with a post-cutdown-day IR move, which will be a common transaction today, the Vikings are waiving Jalen Reagor. The former first-round pick will be off Minnesota’s roster Wednesday, Schefter adds. The Vikings acquired Reagor via trade last year, picking him up from the Eagles on the day after setting their initial 2022 53-man roster. But the player Philly chose ahead of Justin Jefferson will not play a second season in Minnesota’s Jefferson-fronted receiving corps.

Reagor trade rumors re-emerged Tuesday, but no deal transpired. Rather than the Vikings convincing a team to take on Reagor’s $2.42MM fully guaranteed salary, the team will be hit with dead money. Offset language being present in the deal, however, will help the Vikings in the event Reagor signs elsewhere, per the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Ben Goessling.

After washing out with the Eagles, Reagor did not make a notable impact with the Vikings. The TCU alum caught eight passes for 104 yards while serving as a regular punt returner with his second NFL team. Claiming Reagor would mean another club would be responsible for that $2.42MM; a free agency stay seems likelier to take place for the 2020 No. 21 overall pick.

The Vikings kept six wideouts Tuesday, with 2022 sixth-rounder Jalen Nailor and return man Brandon Powell joining starters Jefferson, K.J. Osborn and Jordan Addison. Powell returned both punts and kicks for the Rams last season and will be the logical Reagor replacement as the Vikes’ punt returner.

Gaskin joins Ty Chandler and kick returner Kene Nwangwu behind Mattison on Minnesota’s running back depth chart. Mattison’s two incumbent backups have not gained much experience on offense, with the Cook-Mattison hierarchy in place from 2019-22. Minnesota is believed to view Mattison as a capable three-down back, but with the recently re-signed backup not having performed in this role before, RB depth behind him is a bit more important for the team compared to previous years.

The Dolphins used Gaskin as a backfield regular in 2020 and ’21. Under Flores, the former seventh-round pick 1,196 rushing yards in those seasons; he topped out at 4.1 yards per carry (in 2021) during that span. Under Mike McDaniel last season, Gaskin played in only four games and worked as a seldom-used backup. The Dolphins placed Gaskin on IR in December, after they had acquired Wilson via trade.

Steelers To Sign CB Desmond King

August 30th, 2023 at 8:18am CST by Sam Robinson

Desmond King did not make the Texans’ 53-man roster, but the veteran cornerback will have another opportunity soon. The Steelers are expected to add King, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The sides have agreed on a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The Steelers will be a fourth team for King. The former Chargers UDFA and All-Pro has spent his career in Los Angeles, Tennessee and Houston. King has spent much of his career in the slot. The Steelers added veteran slot defender Chandon Sullivan this offseason, but it looks like they will bring in more help.

This would require a roster move, as the Steelers set their 53-man squad Tuesday. But teams will be making a host of veteran additions today, as players are moved to IR. In order for players to be eligible for in-season activations from IR, teams must carry them through to their 53-man roster and then shift them to the injured list.

While teams often use post-cutdown-day IR moves to re-sign vested veterans they recently cut, veterans released by other clubs factor into equations as well. King, 28, is a six-year vet who started 25 games for the Texans from 2021-22. Pro Football Focus viewed King’s 2022 season fondly, slotting him 20th overall among corners. King’s value as a tackler helped produce that placement; the Detroit native finished with a career-high (by a substantial margin) 10 tackles for loss last year.

The Steelers obviously go into the season with bigger goals compared to the Texans, who have produced four-, four- and three-win seasons in the 2020s. But Houston is transitioning to a new defensive scheme under DeMeco Ryans. The rebuilding AFC South team is planning to use the recently re-signed Tavierre Thomas in the slot, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets, with Grayland Arnold in that mix as well.

King, who was attached to a two-year deal worth $7MM in Houston, played more than 900 defensive snaps in each of the past two seasons. The ex-Charger UDFA has also contributed regularly as a punt returner. He earned first-team All-Pro honors as both a slot corner and punt returner in 2018. Although King has not operated in a return capacity in each of his NFL seasons, he has done so frequently — including over the past two years with the Texans. King returned punts for touchdowns in 2018 and ’19.

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