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Patriots To Waive K Chad Ryland

August 27th, 2024 at 11:34am CST by Sam Robinson

Not long after the Packers made their kicker decision, the Patriots have theirs ready. The team is moving on from incumbent Chad Ryland, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.

This will give Joey Slye the win in New England’s kicking competition. The Pats added Slye this offseason, doing so after the Jaguars had cut him. Slye kicked for the Commanders in 2023. This will mark a quick exit for Ryland, who was chosen ahead of Anders Carlson in last year’s draft.

Green Bay cut Carlson earlier today; he arrived as a sixth-round choice. Ryland came to Foxborough as a fourth-rounder out of Eastern Michigan. Ryland beat out Nick Folk for the Patriots’ kicker job last year, with the team dealing the veteran to the Titans. Tennessee has since re-signed Folk after a strong season.

Ryland did make a 56-yard field goal to down the Broncos on Christmas Eve, ending the Russell Wilson era in Denver, but he struggled mightily as a rookie. The 24-year-old made just 64% of his field goal tries (16-for-25), a rate out of step with the current generation of kickers. The Pats gave him another chance but will move on early.

Slye, 28, is a veteran of 78 games. His NFL tenure has included regular season action with the Panthers, Texans, 49ers and Commanders. It was with the latter team that he enjoyed a strong run to close out the 2021 season, connecting on all 12 of his field goals and nine of 10 extra points. The former UDFA remained in the nation’s capital for the past two years, seeing mixed results during that time. He will aim to earn an extended stay with the Patriots beginning in 2024 while Ryland looks for a new opportunity.

Titans To Waive CB Caleb Farley

August 27th, 2024 at 11:12am CST by Sam Robinson

Unable to stay healthy during his first three-plus seasons in the NFL, Caleb Farley has seen the Titans move on from both the coach and GM that drafted him. After another injury, the veteran cornerback will be moved off Tennessee’s roster.

The Titans are waiving Farley today, ESPN’s Adams Schefter tweets. The 2021 first-round pick has two ACL tears and significant back issues on his medical sheet, and he ran into hamstring trouble during training camp.

Jon Robinson identified Farley for Mike Vrabel’s defense, doing so despite the Virginia Tech product having suffered an ACL tear while in college. While Farley managed to land first-round money, he also entered the NFL after undergoing two back surgeries. Farley ended up needing a third while in Tennessee, with that issue ending his 2022 season early. The Titans had already benched Farley earlier that year.

The back injury that landed Farley on IR (and back onto the operating table) in 2022 prevented him from playing in 2023 as well. With Ran Carthon and new HC Brian Callahan having no ties to the fourth-year defender, it is not exactly surprising the team is moving on. Farley only played in 12 Titans games during his three-season run.

The Titans declined Farley’s fifth-year option in May, but his rookie contract was guaranteed. Tennessee will eat $4.29MM in dead money from this cut, providing an illustration of how little Farley was able to contribute on his rookie deal. New regimes are often less concerned with dead cap, however, and this one will cut its losses.

Commanders To Release WR Martavis Bryant

August 27th, 2024 at 10:50am CST by Adam La Rose

Martavis Bryant‘s efforts to return to the NFL resulted in a Commanders deal, but he will not make the team’s initial roster. The veteran wideout is being cut, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Bryant spent part of the 2023 campaign on the Cowboys’ practice squad, but he did not see any regular season game action. Dallas retained him via a futures deal, but his May release left him on the open market. The 32-year-old was surprised to be let go by the Cowboys, Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post notes.

Bryant nevertheless remained focused on his goal of landing an NFL roster spot, an effort which he recounted (via the Jhabvala piece) was sparked by a 2023 workout with DeAndre Hopkins. Bryant – who last played a regular season game in 2018 – managed to land a workout with the Commanders not long after being let go by the Cowboys. A second audition (after which he dropped roughly 20 pounds) drew strong reviews from head coach Dan Quinn and Co., resulting in a contract earlier this month.

In the time since that pact was finalized, the Commanders have traded away 2022 first-round wideout Jahan Dotson. That move has led to questions regarding how Washington’s WR depth chart will shake out behind Terry McLaurin, and it seemed to open the door to Bryant making the 53-man roster as a complementary receiver. While he could still be retained via the practice squad, today’s news casts doubt on his 2024 outlook.

Bryant dealt with suspensions in 2015, 2016 and 2018, halting his ability to build off the promise he showed during his Steelers tenure. A one-year Raiders tenure was followed by time in the CFL and XFL before being reinstated by the NFL and given the opportunity to find a permanent gig. That could still take place in Bryant’s case, but the chances of doing so have taken a hit.

Lions To Release QB Nate Sudfeld

August 27th, 2024 at 10:36am CST by Sam Robinson

Either Hendon Hooker made late progress, or the Lions are confident they can add a veteran backup soon. After Dan Campbell proclaimed Nate Sudfeld ahead for Detroit’s QB2 role, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes that Sudfeld is being released.

Sudfeld, who has not seen game action since the Eagles’ scrutinized Jalen Hurts benching to close out the 2020 regular season, missed all of last season due to injury but had impressed in training camp. He will pass straight to free agency.

Considering Sudfeld has not played since the 2020 season and missed all of last year, it also is conceivable he will not generate much interest. The Lions may well have the opportunity to stash the veteran on their practice squad. The team also has offseason pickup Jake Fromm as a P-squad option. But this will move Hooker up the depth chart.

It has long been expected Hooker would eventually be Jared Goff‘s backup, but Campbell’s comment earlier this month poured some cold water on the 2023 third-rounder’s progress. Detroit effectively redshirted Hooker last season, after a November 2022 ACL tear hurt his draft stock. But Teddy Bridgewater retired, en route to coaching at his high school alma mater, opening a door for Hooker, who spent most of last season on the NFI list.

The Lions could also move Sudfeld back to their active roster after other roster moves commence, but since the NFL has provided more IR flexibility this year, fewer post-cutdown-day IR moves figure to occur. As it stands, Sudfeld is off Detroit’s roster for the time being. It would stand to reason he or Fromm will be the team’s de facto QB3. Monday’s news regarding the NFLPA nixing the league’s move to give teams QB flexibility has not moved the Lions to keep three passers.

Colts To Place DE Samson Ebukam On IR; Late-Season Return In Play

August 27th, 2024 at 10:30am CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts will take advantage of the NFL’s new IR rule, but they player they will have in mind for a return is rather interesting. Despite Samson Ebukam having suffered an Achilles tear, Indianapolis is not closing the door on a return.

Ebukam went down in late July, but rather than shelve him for the full season, the Colts are keeping a door open for a late-season re-emergence. Indy is planning to place Ebukam on IR with a return designation, per the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson. This will mean the Colts lose one of their eight injury activations immediately.

Indianapolis is not stopping with Ebukam here. The team is also planning to place linebacker Cameron McGrone on IR with a return designation, Erickson adds. This will cut the Colts’ IR-return moves from eight to six before the season starts.

Players who landed on IR before 53-man rosters were set previously were out of the picture for those teams, but the NFL passed a rule that will allow teams to designate two players to return before the final 53s surface. Any player placed on IR with this designation will count immediately toward a team’s activation total, whether he returns or not. This would seem to matter with Ebukam, who faces a lengthy rehab effort.

Ebukam delivered a career-best season in 2023, totaling 9.5 sacks to help the Colts rank in the top five in that category. The team still has good depth here, with Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo and first-rounder Laiatu Latu in the mix. But it clearly views Ebukam as important. Cam Akers suffered a late-July Achilles tear in 2021 and indeed returned late in the regular season. Though, he did not display good form upon returning. The Ravens and 49ers saw Terrell Suggs and Michael Crabtree, respectively, return after offseason Achilles tears. But both players went down well before July in 2012 and ’13.

It is interesting the Colts are prepared to burn another IR-return move on McGrone, a special-teamer who logged 152 defensive snaps last season. They will not make Jelani Woods an IR-return player. Turf toe, which led to a recent surgery, will keep him out. The Colts are placing the third-year tight end on IR without a return designation, Fox59’s Mike Chappell tweets.

Rams TE Tyler Higbee To Begin Season On Reserve/PUP List

August 27th, 2024 at 10:29am CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, Tyler Higbee will be sidelined for at least the first four games of the season. The Rams tight end is being shifted to the reserve/PUP list, as noted by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Higbee is rehabbing an ACL tear suffered in Los Angeles’ wild-card loss. Missed time at the beginning of the campaign was always a distinct possibility as a result, and the team does not expect him to be fully healthy within the first four weeks of the season anyway. As Higbee continues to recover, the Rams will look elsewhere at the tight end spot.

The 31-year-old has been a consistent element of Los Angeles’ offense during his eight-year career. Higbee has started every game he is played in since 2017, and he has made 61 or more catches three times in a season. While 2023 was a down year in terms of production, his absence will still be felt on offense during the fall.

Los Angeles added Colby Parkinson in free agency on a two-year, $22.5MM deal. The former Seahawk will take on starting duties while Higbee is on the mend, and the Rams’ TE tandem when the latter is healthy will be an intriguing part of their offense. Los Angeles also has Hunter Long – acquired via trade last year – along with 2023 fifth-round selection Davis Allen in place on the depth chart. Those two will see elevated roles at least until Higbee is activated.

The former fourth-rounder is on the books for two more seasons, and he is due $17MM during that span. $2MM of Higbee’s 2025 roster bonus is already guaranteed, so having him back at full strength well before the start of next season will be key from the Rams’ perspective. He should be on the field at some point this year, but for now Los Angeles’ efforts to return to the postseason will take place without him in the picture.

Texans To Cut WRs Ben Skowronek, Noah Brown; CBs C.J. Henderson, Desmond King Also Released

August 27th, 2024 at 10:11am CST by Sam Robinson

For a second time this year, a team has made plans to waive Ben Skowronek. When the Rams were close to doing so in May, they found a trade partner. As of now, the Texans do not have a trade in place.

Houston is moving on from a wide receiver it acquired from Los Angeles, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reporting Skowronek will be cut. He will not be the only wideout Houston is releasing. The team is cutting Noah Brown, veteran reporter Jordan Schultz tweets. Brown totaled 567 receiving yards in his Texans debut. That said, the Texans entered the week with a crowded wide receiver room.

Additionally, the Texans are moving on from cornerback C.J. Henderson, per Wilson. The team added the former Jacksonville top-10 pick in March, bringing him in along with ex-Lions top-five CB draftee Jeff Okudah. But Henderson has struggled during his pro career, being benched by the Panthers during a rocky three-season tenure. Henderson is a vested veteran and will return to free agency.

The Texans are also moving on from Desmond King, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. King, who began a second stint with the team after the Steelers cut him last year, re-signed with the Texans this offseason. The veteran was competing for the team’s slot cornerback role.

Second-round pick Kamari Lassiter is slated to start opposite Derek Stingley. The Texans also signed ex-Patriots slot defender Myles Bryant in late March. Okudah remains on Houston’s roster, being given a one-year deal worth $4.75MM. The Texans gave Henderson a one-year, $2MM pact; only $500K was guaranteed.

Some of these players figure to be under consideration for Texans practice squad spots, but they also may have options in free agency. Brown impressed as a fill-in player for an injury-plagued receiving corps last year, and the longtime Cowboys option signed a one-year deal worth $4MM. With Brown being guaranteed $3MM, it is a bit surprising the team is moving on from a player with back-to-back 500-plus-yard seasons on his resume.

The Texans, however, acquired Stefon Diggs via trade and have Tank Dell returning from injury. The team also used a 2022 second-round pick on John Metchie. Despite the Alabama alum and leukemia survivor generating trade interest, he remains with the club. So does Robert Woods, who is tied to a two-year, $14MM deal. The Texans gave up only a 2026 sixth-round pick for Skowronek, who functioned as a utility player of sorts for the Rams.

Bears To Release QB Brett Rypien

August 27th, 2024 at 10:06am CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears’ quarterback hierarchy appeared set. At least, the team’s Nos. 1 and 2 spots did. One of the other options on Chicago’s roster entering cut day, Brett Rypien, will not be part of the team’s 53-man edition this afternoon.

Rypien received word he will be released, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. After four Broncos seasons, the former UDFA has become a journeyman. He has bounced from the Rams to the Seahawks to the Jets to the Bears in less than a year. Rypien is a vested veteran and will head straight to free agency.

Rypien, Caleb Williams and Austin Reed arrived as newcomers this offseason, as the Bears revamped their QB room. As the team builds around the No. 1 overall pick, its Justin Fields backup — Tyson Bagent — remains in its plans. The former Division II standout is on track to remain Chicago’s backup.

Adding Rypien on a one-year, $1.13MM deal, the Bears did not guarantee the former Broncos QB2 anything. Rypien, 28, would profile as a third-string option somewhere — especially now that the NFL’s attempt at changing the emergency third QB rule failed. Teams are no longer allowed to elevate a third-string quarterback an unlimited number of times, which stands to factor into clubs’ decisions today. Reed remains on the Bears’ roster, though it would be interesting if the team’s QB room consisted of two rookies and a 2023 UDFA from Division II.

The Rams released Rypien after he struggled in a start against the Packers, leading to Carson Wentz‘s re-emergence. Rypien has made four career starts, two of those in relief of Russell Wilson in 2022. He is 2-2 as a starter, carrying a 58.3% completion rate and just a 5.7 yards-per-attempt number. The Seahawks added Rypien to their practice squad following his Rams release, and the Jets reunited him with Nathaniel Hackett by signing him to their active roster weeks later.

Patriots To Waive QB Bailey Zappe

August 27th, 2024 at 9:49am CST by Sam Robinson

Drafting two quarterbacks in April, the Patriots did not appear to have room for Bailey Zappe on their 53-man roster. They are cutting the third-year passer, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

As Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye vie for the New England starting job, Zappe had competed with sixth-rounder Joe Milton during the preseason. Zappe is not yet a vested vet and will need to clear waivers, though the Western Kentucky alum has been in this situation before. The Pats waived him last year as well.

Not showing growth in Bill O’Brien‘s offense last summer, Zappe received a cut notice during Bill Belichick‘s final offseason in charge. But the team circled back to the former fourth-round pick via the practice squad. Zappe made his way back to New England’s 53-man roster and eventually replaced Mac Jones as a starter. Zappe ended up making six starts last season, being responsible for two wins in a 4-13 Pats campaign.

Overall, Zappe has started eight games in two seasons. He is a 63.2% passer who holds an 11-to-12 TD-to-INT ratio. Zappe, who threw a Division I-FBS-record 62 touchdown passes during his lone season with the Hilltoppers, has averaged 6.8 yards per attempt as a pro. He has played in three Pats offenses in three years. It will be interesting to see if a team makes a claim this year; no one submitted a claim in 2023.

A cannon-armed prospect out of Tennessee, Milton arrived as a developmental player in Round 6. Milton wowed observers with his arm strength this summer, though his preseason outings have left considerable room for improvement. Milton only completed 36.7% of his passes (11-for-30) during the Pats’ exhibition slate. Zappe went 15 of 25 during his preseason work, but the Patriots have obviously seen plenty of his form. They will gauge Milton’s development moving forward.

Charles Omenihu To Start Season On Chiefs’ PUP List; BJ Thompson To Stay On NFI

August 27th, 2024 at 9:43am CST by Sam Robinson

As the Chiefs embark on their threepeat quest, they will be without one of their edge-rushing regulars. Charles Omenihu is remaining on the team’s PUP list, moving to the reserve/PUP to start the season.

The two-time reigning champions are hopeful the 2023 free agency addition will be ready to return in November, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The former Texans and 49ers edge player suffered an ACL tear during the Chiefs’ AFC championship game win in Baltimore and had been expected to start the season off the roster.

Omenihu, who turned 27 last week, must miss only four games because of this transaction. But it appears clear the Chiefs are not expecting him back until around midseason. Considering Omenihu suffered the tear in late January, it is not surprising to see this timetable emerge.

The Chiefs gave Omenihu a two-year, $16MM deal as a free agent last year. Despite beginning last season by serving a six-game suspension — for a January 2023 domestic violence arrest — and then ending it with an ACL tear, Omenihu already proclaimed himself deserving of a new contract. He did total seven sacks in 11 games and then add an eighth during his abbreviated Ravens matchup, forcing two fumbles. But it appears he will need to wait there; the Chiefs will likely gauge Omenihu’s post-surgery form before making a move.

Kansas City has former first-rounder George Karlaftis anchoring its edge rush, and the team re-signed versatile D-lineman Mike Danna this offseason. The Chiefs did not give 2023 first-rounder Felix Anudike-Uzomah much playing time as a rookie, but Omenihu being moved off the roster opens the door for the Kansas City-area native.

Another defensive end will also begin the season off Kansas City’s roster. BJ Thompson, who went into cardiac arrest during a June special teams meeting, will begin the season on the NFI list, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Thompson suffered a seizure and was hospitalized. The Chiefs are expecting the 2023 fifth-round pick to play this season, however.

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