- Falcons defensive tackle Marlon Davidson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery recently, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes. The team had hoped Davidson, a 2020 second-round pick, would push Ta’Quon Graham to start opposite Grady Jarrett in the team’s 3-4 scheme. Graham, a 2021 fifth-rounder who started five games last season, is now in the lead. Despite his draft pedigree, Davidson has started just one game.
Tuesday marked the day teams were forced to cut down from 85 to 80 players. Here are the moves teams made made to reach the new maximum. Players who land on the reserve/PUP or reserve/NFI list must miss at least the first four regular-season games.
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: P Nolan Cooney, CB Cortez Davis, TE Josh Hokit, RB T.J. Pledger
- Waived/injured: CB Darrell Baker Jr.
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: WR Geronimo Allison, CB Lafayette Pitts, WR Auden Tate
- Waived: OLB Kuony Deng
- Waived/injured: DL Jalen Dalton
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: ILB Diego Fagot, WR Bailey Gaither, T Jaryd Jones-Smith
- Waived/injured: WR Slade Bolden
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: QB Matt Corral (story), CB Duke Dawson
- Waived: TE Jared Scott
Chicago Bears
- Released: T Julie’n Davenport
- Waived: FB Jake Bargas, CB BoPete Keyes, DT LaCale London, WR Dazz Newsome
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: S Brandon Wilson
- Waived: QB Drew Plitt
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: TE Jeremy Sprinkle
- Waived/injured: LB Christian Sam
- Waived: K Lirim Hajrullahu, CB Quandre Mosely, WR Jaquarii Roberson
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Kyron Brown, WR Ty Fryfogle, RB Ryan Nall
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Shaun Dion Hamilton
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: RB Kylin Hill
- Waived: WR Danny Davis
- Waived/injured: S Vernon Scott
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/non-football illness list: WR John Metchie (story)
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: C Alex Mollette, RB C.J. Verdell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: T Lucas Niang
- Placed on IR: RB Derrick Gore
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: CB Chris Jones
- Waived: WR Chris Lacy
- Waived/injured: CB Cre’von LeBlanc
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Michael Jacquet
- Waived/injured: CB Tevaughn Campbell, LB Damon Lloyd, OLB Ty Shelby
- Placed on reserve/NFI list: TE Stone Smartt
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: LB Ryan Connelly, WR Blake Proehl
- Waived: TE Shaun Beyer, CB Harrison Hand
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: LB Ronnie Perkins
- Placed on reserve/NFI list: OL Andrew Stueber
New Orleans Saints
- Released from IR via injury settlement: T Sage Doxtater, DT Jaleel Johnson
New York Giants
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: OL Nick Gates, T Matt Peart
- Placed on IR: ILB Darrian Beavers (story), TE Andre Miller, TE Ricky Seals-Jones
New York Jets
- Released: OL Caleb Benenoch, LB Kai Nacua
- Waived: S Elijah Riley, OL Isaiah Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: TE Tyree Jackson, OL Brett Toth
- Waived: CB Josh Blackwell, RB DeAndre Torrey, T Jarrid Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: OLB Genard Avery
- Waived: WR Christian Blake, RB Mataeo Durant, QB Chris Oladokun, K Nick Sciba
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: DT Kalia Davis, CB Jason Verrett (story)
- Released: TE Tanner Hudson
- Waived: LB Jeremiah Gemmel
- Waived/injured: OL Sam Schlueter
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Cade Brewer
- Waived: G Shamarious Gilmore
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived/injured: TE Bug Howard
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: K Caleb Shudak
Washington Commanders
- Released: T Rashod Hill
- Placed on IR: LB Nathan Gerry
- Waived: WR Kelvin Harmon
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Sammis Reyes
After yesterday’s deadline dump, there are plenty of new names available to be plucked out of free agency. Here’s today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: LB Jesse Lemonier
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR KeeSean Johnson
- Waived: WR Tyshaun James
- Waived (injury settlement): DL Bryce Rodgers
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Josh Watson
- Waived: TE Ryan Izzo
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: CB Michael Joseph, CB Jayson Stanley, DB Javin White
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Javaris Davis
- Waived: CB Bookie Radley-Hiles
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OT Wyatt Miller
- Placed on IR: OT Elijah Nkansah
- Waived: WR Travell Harris
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: DB Kyron Brown, TE Ian Bunting, WR Ty Fryfogle
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: S Brady Breeze
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: S DeVante Cross
- Placed on IR: TE Dominique Dafney
- Waived (injury designation): WR Malik Taylor
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Wyatt Ray
- Released: DT Malcom Brown
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from active/PUP list: DT Johnathan Hankins, DT Bilal Nichols, CB Trayvon Mullen, WR Dillon Stoner
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: WR Warren Jackson
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: DB Tino Ellis
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: WR Thomas Hennigan, DT Tyarise Stevenson
New Orleans Saints
- Claimed off waivers (Jets): OL Derrick Kelly
- Placed on IR: DT Jaleel Johnson
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: WR Austin Proehl
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: WR Lance Lenoir
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived (injury settlement): DE T.D. Moultry, DB Jared Mayden, CB Jimmy Moreland
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: OT Jonathan Hubbard
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: TE Briley Moore
With the NFL dropping the roster limit to 85 players today, we’ve got a long list of minor moves to pass along:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: TE Tucker Fisk, LB Rashad Smith, DB Tre Webb, P Seth Vernon
- Placed on IR: CB Cornell Armstrong
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: QB Brett Hundley
- Placed on IR: LB Trent Harris
Buffalo Bills
- Released: CB Tim Harris, LB Marquel Lee
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR: DE Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
Chicago Bears
- Signed: S Jon Alexander, OL Corey Dublin
- Waived: LB Noah Dawkins, TE Rysen John
- Waived/injured: S Michael Joseph, CB Jayson Stanley, LB Javin White
- Placed on IR: C Doug Kramer
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Saints): WR Easop Winston
- Released: DT Sheldon Day
- Waived/injured: OT Elijah Nkansah
- Placed on IR: C Dawson Deaton, C Nick Harris (story)
- Released from IR: LB Silas Kelly
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from PUP: LB Anthony Barr
- Placed on IR: FB Ryan Nall
Denver Broncos
- Waived: RB Max Borghi, WR Kaden Davis, WR Travis Fulgham, S Jamar Johnson, TE Rodney Williams
- Released from IR: RB Tyreik McAllister
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Josh Johnson
- Waived/injured: S Brady Breeze
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): TE Nate Becker
- Released: RB BJ Baylor, LB Ellis Brooks, TE Dominique Dafney, G George Moore, LB Randy Ramsey
Houston Texans
- Waived: DL Damion Daniels
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: Isaiah Ford
- Waived: OT Brandon Kemp, CB Alexander Myres, WR Michael Young
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released from IR: RB Nathan Cottrell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: DL Austin Edwards, WR Devin Gray
- Reverted to IR: WR Gary Jennings
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: P Cameron Dicker, OT Adrian Ealy, QB Luis Perez, TE Jamal Pettigrew, DB Caesar Dancy-Williams
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: CB Nate Brooks, DE Gerri Green, OT Tyrone Wheatley
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: OL Cole Banwart, WR DeVonte Dedmon, DL Jordan Williams
- Waived/injured: CB Tino Ellis
- Placed on IR: TE Adam Shaheen
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: CB Tye Smith
- Waived: FB Jake Bargas, LB Andre Mintze
- Waived/injured: WR Thomas Hennigan, DL Tyarise Stevenson
New York Giants
- Waived: TE Jeremiah Hall, DB Gavin Heslop
- Waived/injured: WR Austin Proehl
New York Jets
- Released: DB Luq Barcoo, WR Rashard Davis, OL Derrick Kelly, DE Timmy Ward
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived/injured: WR Lance Lenoir, S Jared Mayden, CB Jimmy Moreland
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: G William Dunkle
- Claimed off waivers: C Ryan McCollum
- Waived: DT Doug Costin, OT Jake Dixon, C Nate Gilliam, P Cameron Nizialek, C Chris Owens
- Placed on IR: S Karl Joseph
- Released from IR: WR Javon McKinley
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: DB Ross Cockrell
- Waived: TE Ben Beise, OL Curtis Blackwell, WR Kameron Brown
- Waived/injured: OL Jonathan Hubbard, OLB JoJo Ozougwu
Washington Commanders
- Released: CB Troy Apke, CB De’Vante Bausby, G Deion Calhoun
- Placed on IR: FB Alex Armah, TE Sammis Reyes
- Released from IR: WR Jequez Ezzard
Here’s the word on some of the injuries from Week 1 of the preseason:
- The Falcons saw their top draft pick of 2022 leave their first preseason game in the first quarter on Friday. Wide receiver Drake London asked to be subbed out after reeling in a 24-yard pass from quarterback Marcus Mariota. This was the last thing Atlanta fans wanted to see considering London was drafted so highly despite an injury that ended his final season at USC prematurely. Luckily, it doesn’t appear that his college injury was the cause of his exit, according to AP News. London left the game with a knee injury, a different ailment from the broken ankle that sidelined him in college. The Falcons will play it careful with London and allow him time to get back to 100% before the regular season begins. “It’s nothing that we’re really concerned about long term,” head coach Arthur Smith told the media. “We’ll be smart…We hope to get everyone back by the time the regular season rolls around.” It looks like London will sit out this week, at least, and the team will reevaluate on the other side of their Week 2 preseason matchup with the Jets next Monday.
- The Bills were without wide receiver Marquez Stevenson this week in a preseason game that likely would’ve seen him get plenty of playing time. Head coach Sean McDermott told the media that Stevenson “had surgery to repair a foot injury last week,” likely sidelining him for the remainder of the preseason, according to a tweet from Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. McDermott seemed to convey that the team was uncertain whether or not he would be ready to begin the regular season. It’ll be interesting to see what effect, if any, this has on the Bills’ final 53-man roster for guys like Tavon Austin, Tanner Gentry, and Jake Kumerow.
Today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Cortez Davis
- Released: CB Nate Brooks
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: DL Bryce Rodgers
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Jordan Kunaszyk
- Waived: LB Silas Kelly
Indianapolis Colts
- Released via injury settlement: WR John Hurst
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB EJ Perry
- Waived: QB Kyle Sloter
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from PUP list: CB Rashad Fenton
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from PUP list: DE Marcus Davenport (story)
- Signed: DE T.J. Carter
- Placed on IR: LB D’Marco Jackson and CB Dylan Mabin
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Chris Glaser
- Released: DE Hamilcar Rashed and OL Parker Ferguson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: DE T.D. Moultry
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: S Elijah Benton and S Adrian Colbert
- Waived: CB Kenneth George
- Waived (injury designation): S Michael Griffin
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Matt Cole
Perry’s interesting post-draft NFL journey continues. Initially slated to join the Eagles as a UDFA, he ended up signing with the Jaguars days later. Then, in July, he was waived (with an injury designation) to make room for Sloter’s addition. Perry has obviously recovered, as the two have now swapped placed once more.
Fenton was one of four Chiefs placed on the PUP list at the start of training camp. That came as little surprise at the time, but his return to practice will be a welcomed sight in Kansas City’s secondary. NFL Network’s James Palmer tweets that Fenton’s preseason availability remains a question mark, but that he is still expected to be fully recovered in time for the regular season.
Jackson was a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft at a position which has been in flux throughout the offseason in New Orleans. The 24-year-old had a highly productive final season in particular at Appalachian State, posting 119 tackles, 20 TFLs and six sacks. He will now have to wait until 2023 to carve out a depth role in the middle of the Saints’ defense.
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived/injured: DT Bryce Rodgers
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from PUP: RB Kyren Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Reverted to IR: RB Nathan Cottrell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DE Matt Dickerson
- Waived: LB Shilique Calhoun
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: C/G Cameron Hunt
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from PUP: WR Warren Jackson, RB Kyren Williams
- Released from IR: TE Kyle Markway
New England Patriots
- Activated from NFI: G Chasen Hines
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Jordan Brown, DE T.J. Carter, LB Chase Hansen
- Activated from NFI: WR Rashid Shaheed
- Waived/injured: CB Dylan Mabin
New York Giants
- Released: OL Matt Gono
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Caleb Benenoch
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Ron’Dell Carter
- Activated from PUP: DE Tyson Alualu
- Waived/injured: LB T.D. Moultry
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Matt Cole
- Reverted to IR: WR Jequez Ezzard
Despite a severe injury — a dislocated and broken ankle — ending MyCole Pruitt‘s 2021 season, he is back with a team during training camp. The Falcons are signing the veteran tight end, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets.
Pruitt, who spent most of the past four years with the Titans, had surfaced on the workout circuit recently. The Bengals and Vikings brought him in, gauging his form after the ankle injury occurred late last season. Pruitt went down during the Titans’ Week 17 game in early January but will have an opportunity to be part of the Falcons’ 53-man roster.
This will import another of Arthur Smith‘s former Titans tight ends. The team also added Anthony Firkser to its Kyle Pitts-led position group this offseason. Atlanta did not retain 2021 Pitts complement Hayden Hurst, who played with the team for two seasons. Pruitt was with the Titans during part of Smith’s run as their tight ends coach and throughout his stay as offensive coordinator.
Used mostly as a blocker, Pruitt played between 36-44% of the Titans’ offensive snaps over the past three seasons. While the Titans let Pruitt sign with the 49ers in 2021, San Francisco cutting him before the start of the season paved a path back to Tennessee. The former Vikings fifth-round pick played a steady role in helping Derrick Henry to back-to-back rushing titles in 2019 and ’20. Last season doubled as Pruitt’s best receiving year, producing 14 receptions, 145 yards and three touchdown grabs (all career-high marks).
Going into what would be his age-30 season, Pruitt could be in position to complement Pitts. But he will have to show he has recovered from the ankle setback. The Falcons also used a sixth-round pick on tight end John FitzPatrick this year.
We will keep track of today’s minor moves right here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DL Abdullah Anderson
- Placed on IR: DL Vincent Taylor
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from active/NFI list: G Rodger Saffold
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: LB Christian Albright (from waived/injured)
- Waived/injured: LB C.J. Avery
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from active/PUP list: DE Khalid Kareem
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from active/NFI list: CB Keisean Nixon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Matt Colburn
- Waived/injured: RB Nathan Cottrell
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Eric Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OT Jarrid Williams
Washington Commanders
- Signed: TE Eli Wolf, S Steven Parker
- Released: QB Cole Kelley, LB Bryce Notree
- Waived/injured: WR Jequez Ezzard
Saffold landed on the NFI list after injuring his ribs in a car accident. Getting their starting left guard back sooner rather than later is an important development for the Bills.
Colburn will take the place of Cottrell in the Jags’ RB room. The Wake Forest product played in four games for the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars this year, garnering 102 rushes for 457 yards (just under 4.5 YPC) and eight scores.
Cottrell has seen action in each of the past two years for Jacksonville, returning seven kicks in 2020 and handling one carry in 2021.
Wolf and Parker get preseason roster positions after successful workouts yesterday. The Commanders are looking for depth at both positions as they work towards a 53-man roster.
James White remains without a return timetable. The veteran is still sidelined following hip surgery, and Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets that it’s uncertain when the long-time Patriots RB will return to the field.
The longest-tenured member of the Patriots offense could ultimately land on PUP, but Howe notes that the organization will wait a few more weeks to evaluate White’s progress. The RB suffered a hip subluxation injury last September, limiting him to only three games during the 2021 season. White had 496 yards from scrimmage during his first non-Tom Brady season in 2020, but he topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage in both 2019 and 2018.
Fortunately for the Patriots, the organization still has Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson atop their depth chart, but it’s tough to replace the pass-catching prowess of White. The organization also used a pair of draft picks on RBs Pierre Strong Jr. (fourth round) and Kevin Harris (sixth round).
More injury notes from around the NFL…
- Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had an appendectomy last week, and it’s unlikely we see him until the regular season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Burrow likely won’t play during the preseason. Rapoport estimates that the QB could return two to four weeks after his initially surgery, and he’ll likely participate in throwing sessions while limiting his hits during practice.
- Bills All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer hyperextended his elbow yesterday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). While the injury will keep Poyer off the field for a few weeks, he’s expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. The veteran defensive back has only missed a pair of regular season games since joining the Bills in 2017.
- Giants fourth-round safety Dane Belton suffered a broken collarbone, reports ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (via Twitter). While the rookie will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, the organization is holding out hope that he’ll be good to go for the start of the season. There’s a better chance he lands on IR following final cuts and will then be activated at some point in October. The Iowa product had already made a strong impression at training camp, according to Raanan.
- Falcons defensive tackle Vincent Taylor ruptured his Achilles, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein (on Twitter). The injury will force Taylor to miss the 2022 season. The 28-year-old joined the Falcons back in April. The journeyman has appeared in 40 career games, including a single start with the Texans in 2021.