HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Dolphins Sign RB Anthony McFarland Jr., Release RB Salvon Ahmed

August 19th, 2024 at 9:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Dolphins continued to add at running back under Mike McDaniel, Salvon Ahmed kept waging successful battles to keep his roster spot. But the Brian Flores-era acquisition received word Monday he would be released.

During a busy day for Dolphins transactions, the team cut the fifth-year running back. Ahmed re-signed in March, staying in Miami on a one-year deal worth $1.29MM. The Dolphins did not guarantee Ahmed anything upon bringing him back, and the team made another key move at running back weeks after keeping the enduring former UDFA.

Mentioned as a release candidate before the trade addition of Jeff Wilson back in 2022, Ahmed managed to stick around despite the subsequent De’Von Achane draft choice. This year, however, the Dolphins traded up for Tennessee speedster Jaylen Wright. With ex-McDaniel 49ers charges Wilson and Raheem Mostert still around, Ahmed did not seem to have a realistic path to the team’s active roster. The team also rosters Chris Brooks, who arrived as a UDFA under McDaniel.

It would seemingly not be out of the question Ahmed — a Dolphin since 2020 — resurfaced on the team’s practice squad, but this early release would give him a shot at landing somewhere else. Most teams are not as deep as Miami in the backfield, pointing to Ahmed having another chance. Though, he does not exactly play a position on the right end of the supply-and-demand spectrum. A Washington alum, Ahmed rushed for 319 yards as a rookie but has not surpassed 150 in a season since.

The Dolphins are also adding at running back, signing former Steeler Anthony McFarland Jr. The 2020 fourth-rounder spent the past four seasons with the Steelers, working in a reserve role. McFarland, 26, has only topped 30 rushing yards in one season (2020, when he amassed 113). The Steelers used one of their eight allotted IR activations on the third-string RB last season but waived him later in the year.

Miami also signed fullback Zander Horvath along with linebacker Dequan Jackson and wide receiver Jadon Janke. The team placed Willie Snead and offensive lineman Sean Harlow on IR and waived linebacker Ezekiel Vandenburgh with an injury designation. Snead caught on with the Dolphins in late July, joining a team that placed Odell Beckham Jr. on the active/PUP list.

It does not sound like OBJ will come off the list especially soon, McDaniel said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson). Beckham will not practice this week, per McDaniel. Teams to not have to disclose the nature of injuries before injury reports return ahead of Week 1, so Beckham’s issue remains a bit of a mystery.

While it does not sound like the Dolphins are overly concerned, Beckham certainly has dealt with a number of injuries. Health issues led to his tumble off the superstar tier, but the veteran wideout has remained a viable contributor. The Dolphins gave OBJ a one-year, $3MM deal ($3MM guaranteed) to be their No. 3 wideout.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/19/24

August 19th, 2024 at 8:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Placed on IR: T Earl Bostick

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: C Mike Panasiuk, LB Mike Smith Jr.
  • Placed on IR: C Ryan Coll
  • Waived/injured: G Josh Sills
  • Released via injury settlement: RB Trent Pennix

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed: LS Randen Plattner
  • Waived: OL McKade Mettauer

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: WR Justin Hall
  • Waived: WR Ty James, P Seth Vernon

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: LB Kyahva Tezino

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: TE Michael Ezeike, TE Devon Garrison
  • Waived: LB Devin Richardson, CB Willie Roberts

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: DL Brandon Matterson

Washington Commanders

Smith sustained a torn patellar tendon during a Bengals joint practice with the Bears, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He joins Evans in sustaining a season-ending injury during that workout. A 2021 fourth-round pick, Smith was believed to have earned the Bengals’ swing tackle role early last year. But he did not see any game action in Year 3. Having played in just three career games, Smith has seen his career hit a crossroads after this injury. His rookie contract expires after the season. This further depletes a Bengals O-line that will be without first-rounder Amarius Mims for a bit due to a strained pec.

A former Bengals starter, Adeniji joined the Browns in March. A knee injury sidelined Adeniji recently, and while Kevin Stefanski said the veteran O-lineman will miss “a little bit of time,” this transaction will likely lead to an injury settlement that sends him back to free agency for a stretch. The Bengals used Adeniji as a starter in each of their four 2021 playoff games, before spending to upgrade their O-line the following year. Adeniji, a 2020 sixth-rounder, played in one Vikings game last season.

Brown and Lamar Jackson sustained injuries during the Panthers’ most recent preseason game, adding to Carolina’s issues — headlined by Dane Jackson‘s significant hamstring setback — at corner. Formerly a Cowboys regular, Brown has struggled to stick with a team as of late. He spent 2023 with three teams — the Steelers, 49ers and Jets — and played in just two games. This came after Brown was with Dallas for six seasons, starting 69 games.

A five-game starter for the 2021 Super Bowl champion Rams, Hollins played for three teams last season. The former Broncos draftee was with the Packers, Giants and Chargers. He has 10.5 career sacks, one coming last season.

Justin Herbert Returns To Practice; Chargers Waive QB Max Duggan

August 19th, 2024 at 8:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Justin Herbert returned to practice Monday, putting to rest any concerns about his availability for Week 1. While the standout Chargers quarterback sustained a plantar fascia injury July 31, he participated fully (via The Athletic’s Daniel Popper) with the Bolts’ first-team offense during practice.

Although that workload did not include 11-on-11 work, Herbert appears in no danger of missing any regular-season time. The Chargers have now made the move to waive Max Duggan, the QB they made last year’s Mr. Irrelevant selection.

The Bolts have Herbert going into his fifth season. Throughout that time, Easton Stick has been part of Los Angeles’ roster. Stick moved from third-stringer to backup in 2023, with Chase Daniel‘s contract expiring and the longtime backup transitioning to a media role, and the North Dakota State QB1 between Carson Wentz and Trey Lance replaced Herbert following his season-ending finger injury last season. Stick re-signed with the Chargers this offseason on a one-year, $2.67MM deal, but Popper notes the team needs to consider shopping for another QB2.

Viewing the fifth-year reserve as having regressed this offseason, Popper points to Stick’s fumbled snap and two interceptions in Rams territory — coming after a pick in the Bolts’ preseason opener — as evidence this situation needs to be reexamined. Stick has also looked shaky in Bolts practices on the whole, though he started both preseason games in front of Duggan and recent addition Luis Perez. A veteran of the AAF, XFL and UFL, Perez remains on L.A.’s 90-man roster following the Duggan cut.

The Chargers re-signed Stick despite Jim Harbaugh having no ties to him, moving on from Duggan — whose TCU team eliminated Harbaugh’s Michigan squad in the 2022 CFP semifinals — weeks into camp. Duggan did not play in the Chargers’ second preseason game, seeing Perez replace Stick. The longtime Bolts backup will start the team’s preseason finale, per Harbaugh.

Los Angeles could certainly look into options following next week’s wave of cuts — teams must pare their rosters from 90 to 53 before 3pm CT on August 27 — or look into a trade. If the Bolts release Stick, they would take on $1.4MM in dead money.

As for Herbert, Popper adds he ditched his walking boot late last week. The Pro Bowl QB did not miss any time due to the rib injury he suffered in Week 2 of the 2022 season, powering the Bolts to the playoffs. Though, it took weeks for the strong-armed signal-caller to return to top form that season. The Chargers having Herbert back at work nearly three weeks before the season obviously represents a good sign, and it will be interesting to view the Bolts’ depth chart behind him once waiver claims come in next week.

In addition to waiving Duggan, the Chargers signed safety Jalyn Phillips and waived wide receiver Leon Johnson. Duggan bounced between the team’s active roster and practice squad last year, being signed to a reserve/futures contract in January.

Commanders Eyeing Kicker Addition

August 19th, 2024 at 6:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Three players have taken turns as the lone kicker on Washington’s roster this offseason. Riley Patterson sits in that role presently, but it does not sound like the Commanders are committed to the former Jaguars and Lions specialist just yet.

Brandon McManus held that spot for nearly three months, while Ramiz Ahmed entered camp as the only kicker on the roster. The Commanders signed Ahmed shortly after releasing McManus once a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault emerged. Not long after claiming Patterson off waivers from the Jags, the Commanders cut Ahmed, who has one game of NFL experience.

Patterson has stood as the only kicker on Washington’s 90-man roster for nearly a week, but he went 2-for-4 on field goals against the Dolphins on Saturday. Patterson also missed his only field goal try in the Commanders’ preseason opener. Dan Quinn has since said the Commanders are looking for another kicker, via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala, who notes there is a real possibility the team’s Week 1 kicker is not yet on the roster.

Late August has become a point on the calendar to monitor for kicker changes; Patterson has changed teams at this point in the past. The Lions waived Patterson in 2022, leading him to the Jags, who employed him as their kicker throughout that season. Patterson, whom the Jags traded back to the Lions upon signing McManus in May 2023, spent last season in Detroit and Cleveland before signing a reserve/futures deal with Jacksonville in January. His time in Washington may be short, however.

The Commanders figure to be interested in either making a trade or claiming a kicker another team cuts. Non-vested veterans whom teams cut before the August 27 deadline to finalize initial 53-man rosters will head to waivers, and by virtue of their 4-13 record, the Commanders hold the No. 2 priority. That will come in handy as they evaluate their kicker need compared to other veterans of interest who come across the wire.

A vested vet who is cut passes straight to free agency. Nine teams are currently carrying at least two kickers, with the Packers still rostering three. Randy Bullock and Brett Maher are notable veterans who remain unsigned. If the Packers move on from Greg Joseph (to keep either incumbent Anders Carlson or rookie UDFA Alex Hale), he would pass to free agency. The Browns are also carrying Cade York behind recently extended ex-Washington leg Dustin Hopkins, while the Jets have Austin Seibert behind the recently re-signed Greg Zuerlein. Washington did not re-sign Joey Slye, who is currently competing with Chad Ryland for the Patriots’ job.

Dillon Radunz, Nicholas Petit-Frere In Line To Start For Titans

August 19th, 2024 at 5:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Saahdiq Charles‘ retirement caught the Titans off-guard, but the team had been pitting the free agency addition in an even competition with Dillon Radunz. As a result, the former second-round pick has zeroed in on Tennessee’s starting right guard spot. More continuity is likely here, even as GM Ran Carthon has largely reshaped the offense.

Carthon’s purge of Jon Robinson-era players is not set to include the right side of the Titans’ offensive line. Those position battles are not finished yet, but HC Brian Callahan said Radunz and Nicholas Petit-Frere are moving toward being the team’s starters.

[RELATED: Assessing Titans’ 2024 Offseason]

During a decade in which the Titans have been unable to find right tackle stability — since they let Jack Conklin walk as a 2020 free agent — it is interesting that two players who battled for the gig not long ago are likely to start alongside one another. The Titans’ disastrous Isaiah Wilson investment gave way to a second-round Radunz pick in 2021, but the North Dakota State product was unable to win the job. David Quessenberry started primarily in 2021, and a 2022 competition — after Quessenberry’s free agency exit — produced Petit-Frere as the starter. The 2022 third-round pick, however, encountered a gambling suspension last year and soon sustained a season-ending shoulder injury.

Radunz played four positions last season but primarily worked at right tackle. Pro Football Focus slotted him 41st at the position, a positive step during another injury-plagued Titans season up front. Radunz logged 504 snaps at right tackle and 166 at left guard, coming back after a December 2022 ACL tear. He played 19 snaps at right guard in 2023 and may have entered camp behind Charles, but the ex-Washington starter’s retirement changed the equation for the Titans.

Should Callahan’s current expectation come to fruition, this will also mark the second time in three years Daniel Brunskill will have been demoted. The 49ers used him as their starting right guard throughout the 2020 and ’21 seasons but demoted him to a platoon role with Spencer Burford in 2022. Brunskill, who followed Carthon to Tennessee last year, started all 14 games he played with the Titans in 2023.

This would be a nice opportunity for Radunz, who is in a contract year. Two seasons remain on Petit-Frere’s rookie deal. If an upset occurs and the job goes to another right tackle candidate, the Titans would go into a season with a sixth Week 1 RT in six years.

Petit-Frere started 16 games for the 2022 Titans but played in just three games last season. The team acquired ex-Bill Callahan Cleveland charge Leroy Watson via trade this year and signed veteran Geron Christian; those two joined 2023 sixth-round pick Jaelyn Duncan (five starts last season) in vying for roster spots.

Tennessee has locked-in starters at left tackle (JC Latham), left guard (Peter Skoronski) and center (Lloyd Cushenberry). If DeAndre Hopkins recovers in time for Week 1, the Titans are on track to have eight Carthon acquisitions as offensive starters. Two Robinson-era blockers, however, are poised to remain in the equation for another year.

Cardinals Release OL Dennis Daley

August 19th, 2024 at 4:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cardinals added Dennis Daley on a two-year deal last offseason, but after an injury-shortened campaign he will be on the move. Arizona is expected to release the veteran offensive lineman, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has since confirmed the move.

Daley spent his first three seasons with the Panthers, logging 21 starts across 34 appearances. The 28-year-old saw time at left tackle in addition to both guard spots during that span before being traded to the Titans in 2022. That move was seen as a depth acquisition on Tennessee’s part, but Daley wound up logging a notable workload.

While filling in for the injured Taylor Lewan, the former sixth-rounder made 15 starts on the blindside. That season did not result in a strong PFF evaluation, but Daley still managed to land a two-year contract in free agency from former Titans exec Monti Ossenfort in his first offseason as GM of the Cardinals. He survived roster cuts upon arrival in Arizona, but he was placed on IR to begin the campaign. Once healthy, the South Carolina product made three appearances and one start for the Cardinals.

Arizona moved on from D.J. Humphries this offseason, one in which Jonah Williams was added on the open market. The latter will man the right tackle spot, allowing 2023 sixth overall pick Paris Johnson Jr. to move to the blindside. Daley could have served as a backup option at both spots, and his guard experience could have helped him land a roster spot with a depth role in mind.

Instead, he will hit free agency deep into the summer. Daley may manage to catch on with a new team relatively quickly given his experience, but he will likely need to wait until roster cutdowns at the end of the month to draw interest as teams sort out their offensive line depth. This release will create $1.6MM in cap space while incurring a dead cap charge of $175K.

Texans, S Jimmie Ward Agree To Extension

August 19th, 2024 at 3:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jimmie Ward is set to remain in Houston beyond the coming campaign. The veteran safety has a one-year extension in place, as first reported by ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime.

Ward will now be under contract through the 2025 season. The 33-year-old made his Texans debut last season, the first of DeMeco Ryans’ tenure as head coach. Now, the pair will continue their relationship in Houston after several years together in San Francisco.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 details this agreement will include up to $5.25MM in new money. Ward’s guaranteed compensation across the 2024 and ’25 seasons now sits at $8.75MM.

Since entering the league in 2014, Ward has been a mainstay on defense. His nine-year 49ers tenure included 79 starts in 116 appearances. The former first-rounder struggled with injuries in 2022, a year which he figured would be his final one in the Bay Area. Ryans invited him to sign with whichever team hired him as head coach, though, and that came to fruition in Houston. Team and player agreed to a two-year, $13MM pact and – after seeing some time in the slot – Ward returned to safety upon arrival with the Texans.

The Northern Illinois product was limited to 10 games last season, but when on the field he served as a starter. Ward logged a 73% defensive snap share, a figure short of his usage during many of his 49er years but a step up from the 2022 campaign. He recorded one interception and three pass deflections while not allowing a touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage. That level of play has earned him another short-term commitment.

Ward will continue handling a starter’s workload in a safety room which also includes fellow veteran Eric Murray in addition to third-round rookie Calen Bullock. 2022 second-rounder Jalen Pitre has previously played at safety, but Houston is using him at slot corner this offseason. Regardless of how that move works out, Ward will continue to be counted on for at least the next two years.

Cowboys Sign DE Carl Lawson

August 19th, 2024 at 3:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

AUGUST 19: Lawson’s pact has a base value of $1.13MM, but incentives can increase that total, as detailed by ESPN’s Todd Archer. Reaching each of the five- or seven-sack thresholds would yield $125K in additional compensation; the same amount is available for logging a 55% or 65% defensive snap share. Hitting all of those marks in addition to the Cowboys reaching the playoffs would result in another $500K for Lawson.

AUGUST 15: Carl Lawson has been busy recently with respect to free agent visits, and one of his workouts has led to a deal. The veteran edge rusher is signing with the Cowboys, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

[RELATED: Cowboys Acquire Jordan Phillips From Giants]

Lawson has long remained one of the top edge rush options on the market following the end of his Jets tenure. The 29-year-old was one of four pass rushers the Cowboys hosted earlier this month, although no deal was immediately worked out. Both Al-Quadin Muhammad and Shaka Toney landed Dallas deals in the aftermath of their visits, but the latter was waived/injured yesterday.

In the wake of that development, the Cowboys have circled back to Lawson. The former Bengals fourth-rounder racked up 20 sacks in four seasons with Cincinnati, and he joined the Jets in 2021 with major expectations. An Achilles tear kept him sidelined for the entire season, but he returned to action the following year. Lawson recorded seven sacks in his debut Jets campaign. In 2023, however, things took a notably different turn.

The Auburn alum only suited up for six games last season, and he was held without a sack or QB hit. It thus came as little surprise Lawson endured a lengthy spell on the open market after his April visit with the Dolphins. More recently, he worked out with the Panthers and Cardinals in addition to auditioning for the Cowboys. Looking for depth on the edge, Dallas will add Lawson for the rest of training camp on a deal which will be worth far less than the three-year, $15MM one he previously landed with the Jets.

Dallas is set atop the depth chart with Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. Muhammad and second-round rookie Marshawn Kneeland are set to handle rotational roles in the wake of Sam Williams‘ ACL tear. Lawson will now spend the coming weeks looking to carve out a role as part of that group ahead of roster cutdowns. A return to regular usage could set up an earlier free agent deal being worked out next offseason.

Latest On Titans’ Backup QB Competition

August 19th, 2024 at 12:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

With two preseason games in the books, the Titans have been able to evaluate players at a number of positions which feature ongoing roster competitions. In the case of the backup quarterback gig, though, more time will be needed before a final call is made.

Will Levis sits atop the depth chart, and his ability to develop under rookie head coach Brian Callahan will be a key storyline for Tennessee this season. Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis continue to vie for the QB2 role, and through the first preseason contest the former had impressed to the point the latter struggled to get reps with the second-team offense. Even though they both played against the Seahawks, no firm decision will be made over the comings days.

“We’ll let this thing play out another week,” Callahan said (via the team’s website). “This time next week we’ll be able to make a decision and determination on who the 2 will be, and what happens with the third spot, if we keep three or practice squad three, or we just go with two.”

Even if Rudolph cements his status as the preferred option to Willis, a decision will need to be made on keeping the Liberty product on the 53-man roster or exposing him to waivers later this month. Indications in June pointed to Tennessee being willing to carry three signal-callers on the roster, but Callahan and Co. could opt for a different route when a final decision is made.

Rudolph signed a one-year deal in free agency; all but $100K of his $2.8MM in compensation is guaranteed. The former Steeler has 13 regular season starts to his name, along with last year’s wild-card contest. The 29-year-old took over from an injured Kenny Pickett and remained atop the depth chart once he was healthy, but Pittsburgh cleaned house under center this offseason.

Willis, 25, was a member of the underwhelming 2022 QB class, and he has not developed as a passer to date. The former third-rounder made three starts as a rookie but he was limited to just five pass attempts last season while spending time behind both Levis and Ryan Tannehill on the depth chart. Waiving Willis would create $466K in dead money charges, making that move more financially feasible than a Rudolph release.

Callahan added the Titans’ starters will get limited reps during their preseason finale, but both Rudolph and Willis will also see action in that game. Only after that contest will a final call be made regarding which passer earns the backup role and whether or not both will be retained on the 53-man roster.

Cowboys Interested In Further DL Additions?

August 19th, 2024 at 11:14am CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys added to their defensive line last week by pulling off an intra-divisional trade with the Giants for Jordan Phillips. The veteran needs to make at least two regular season appearances with Dallas for Day 3 picks to be exchanged.

Phillips will spend the coming weeks attempting to make the Cowboys’ 53-man roster. That effort included suiting up for Dallas’ preseason contest against the Raiders, and he will likely see time during the exhibition finale as well. Prior to the Vegas matchup, though, owner Jerry Jones suggested further DL moves could be made in the near future.

“Sometimes in the interior line, you get a chance to do some things with other clubs right at the end of training camp,” Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (h/t Jon Machota of The Athletic). “What you’re seeing right now is important. It’s important to see these guys take reps. But tonight won’t be the final pieces to the puzzle.”

Dallas lost Johnathan Hankins and Neville Gallimore in free agency while adding Albert Huggins to the mix. The latter joins Phillips in attempting to find a regular role on defense alongside the likes of Chauncey Golston, Osa Odighizuwa and Mazi Smith. A 2023 first-rounder, Smith did not have the rookie campaign he or the Cowboys expected. The Michigan alum will look to take a needed step forward in 2024 while potentially logging a larger workload than he did last year (28% defensive snap share).

Roster cutdowns will leave plenty of D-line options available on the waiver wire, and some movement at that position (like all others) will take place shortly. In need of better play in the front seven compared to 2023, the Cowboys will apparently be a team to watch regarding further reinforcements being brought in.

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