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Minor NFL Transactions: 8/4/23

August 4th, 2023 at 7:36pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves as we head into the weekend:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Removed from commissioner’s exempt list: OL Josh Sills

San Francisco 49ers

Sills was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list back in February when a grand jury indicted him on counts of rape and kidnapping. The charges stem from an event that allegedly took place back in December 2019. Today it was announced that Sills was acquitted of both charges, according to sources at The Athletic. The Eagles released a statement that, with his adjudication, he will return to the team’s active roster.

The 49ers announced that Johnson has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. They didn’t disclose the injury that will sideline the young edge they signed two months ago.

The Vikings are adding the XFL’s 2023 leading rusher in Smith. Smith had 791 rushing yards in 10 games last year.

DT Shelby Harris Visits Browns

August 4th, 2023 at 2:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

AUGUST 4: The veteran interior defensive lineman looks to be taking his time on selecting his next team. The Browns did not get the impression Harris was desperate for a deal now, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets. Harris, who has earned more than $26MM during his career, has visited the Browns and Broncos thus far. It is unclear if an offer was extended by either team, but the 64-game starter seems likely to land an opportunity to play a ninth season.

JULY 31: Not long after Shelby Harris made a visit to one of his former teams, he will do so with another potential suitor. The veteran defensive tackle is set to meet with the Browns today, per the Score’s Jordan Schultz (Twitter link).

Harris visited the Broncos last week, signaling that a reunion in Denver could be in the works. Denver lost Eyioma Uwazurike to a gambling suspension, so plenty of playing time would be available for Harris if he were to return to the Mile High City. He could see a signficant role in Cleveland as well, however.

The Browns entered the offseason needing to upgrade their defensive interior, and their most impactful move on that front was the signing of Dalvin Tomlinson. The former Giants and Vikings starter inked a four-year, $57MM deal to serve as the anchor of new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s D-line. That also unit added depth during the draft with the selection Siaki Ika in the third round.

The Browns moved on from 2022 fourth-rounder Perrion Winfrey earlier this month, however, after learning he is under investigation for what would be a second instance of violence against a woman. Winfrey’s absence opens the door to at least rotational snaps for an addition at the position, and Harris could fit the bill. The soon-to-be 32-year-old has served as a full-time starter across each of the past four seasons.

Part of the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade, Harris took a step back in his debut Seahawks season compared to his final Broncos campaign. After posting six sacks in 2021, the former seventh-rounder recorded only two last season while also seeing his pressure, QB hits and tackle for loss totals drop. Still, he would add plenty of experience to a defensive line set to be led by Tomlinson and 2020 third-rounder Jordan Elliott.

Seattle expressed a willingness to re-sign Harris back in March, but his market has seen little movement since that time. After visiting a pair of AFC teams on the lookout for a depth addition, however, a deal could materialize in the near future.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/23

July 31st, 2023 at 8:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: CB Lorenzo Burns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed: CB Anthony Witherstone
  • Placed on IR: LB Isaiah Moore

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Derrick Gore is probably the most intriguing signee on the list, with the running back having seen time in 11 games for the Chiefs in 2021. He finished that season with 361 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns, but he didn’t have a chance for a followup performance in Kansas City. After landing on IR in late August last year, he was ultimately released by the Chiefs. Gore caught on with the Saints and spent the majority of the 2022 season on their practice squad.

Yasir Durant is another Chiefs product, with the lineman getting into 11 games for Kansas City in 2020. He appeared in seven games for the Patriots in 2021 before spending most of last season on the Saints practice squad. He’ll be taking the roster spot previously held by Christian DiLauro, who got into five games for the Titans and Broncos over the past two years.

Darius Harris will be joining the Raiders following a career year in Kansas City. After being limited to only 11 games through his first two seasons in the NFL, Harris got into all 17 games for the Chiefs last year, including four starts. The former UDFA finished the year with 43 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and he added another five tackles in three playoff games. One of Harris’s strongest performances of the 2022 season came against the Raiders when he had 10 tackles and a sack.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/30/23

July 30th, 2023 at 7:20pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor moves around the league to wrap up the weekend:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Igwebuike, the former safety-turned-running back, likely won’t have a role in a crowded running backs room that currently includes rookie top-ten pick Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, and Cordarrelle Patterson. He does have some experience on kick return, where he could compete with Patterson and Avery Williams for a role.

The Rams added some quality, experienced depth today in Freeman. While he’s failed to reach the success he found as a primary backup in his first two seasons, Freeman should have plenty of tread on the tires at only 27 years old with minimal usage over the past three years. Behind starter Cam Akers, Los Angeles only has second-year Kyren Williams and rookie sixth-rounder Zach Evans, so bringing in an experienced backup like Freeman should be beneficial.

The Giants add two depth pieces back to their beat-up receiving corps. Getting them back into the fold will be beneficial for training camp. Meanwhile, across the way, new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get to work with his old teammate, Cobb, once again.

The retirement of Pottebaum comes as a bit of a shock so early into camp. The Iowa-product was a part of Pittsburgh’s small, seven-man undrafted free agent class this year. Not only that, but heading into camp, Pottebaum was also the only fullback listed on the roster. He was in attendance for the Steelers’ first week of training camp, as well, but now appears to be on his way out. This doesn’t leave Pittsburgh completely high and dry as the team was already exploring the option of utilizing tight end Connor Heyward in a role more similar to what he played in college. Heyward could earn a much larger role in his sophomore season by taking on a few more snaps at fullback.

Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Suffered Lisfranc Injury In 2022

July 30th, 2023 at 1:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns dealt with several losses at the linebacker spot in 2022, including a season-ending foot injury suffered by Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The former second-rounder recently provided further details on the ailment and his recovery.

Owusu-Koramoah revealed that his foot sprain, suffered in December, was a Lisfranc injury. That put an end to his second campaign in the NFL, and began a lengthy road to recovery. Surgery was on the table, but the 23-year-old (who is an advocate of natural healing) elected to avoid the procedure.

“Surgery was obviously presented as an option,” Owusu-Koramoah said, via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “I wanted to more so naturally, kind of heal my foot. I just thought, personally, it was a personal decision. It wasn’t like I saw anything better on this side or not better on that side. It was more so just a personal preference.”

The Notre Dame alum was back on the field in time for minicamp last month, and he added upon arrival at training camp that his foot “feels good.” That will be a welcomed development for team and player, after Owusu-Koramoah failed to take the statistical step forward many expected in 2022. He totaled 70 tackles, four pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles, but struggled in coverage and surrendered five touchdowns as the nearest defender. His PFF grade dropped to 65.5, a notable decline from the 76.5 he earned as a rookie.

A return to full health would allow him to resume his full-time starting duties, as the Browns look to avoid the injury troubles which decimated the second level of their defense last year. Owusu-Koramoah, Anthony Walker Jr., Jacob Phillips and Sione Takitaki all saw time on injured reserve in 2022. Each member of that quartet is still in place, though, so Cleveland will have the ability to run it back at the position this year. Owusu-Koramoah will have a central role in the unit’s success, and a full recovery from the serious injury which ended his season could pave the way for a strong third year performance.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/29/23

July 29th, 2023 at 7:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

  • Activated from NFI: G Colby Gossett 
  • Waived (injury designation): CB BoPete Keyes

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

  • Claimed off waivers (from Titans): OL James Empey

Houston Texans

  • Placed on IR: OL Dylan Deatherage

Indianapolis Colts

  • Waived: CB Cole Coleman

New York Giants

With Butler being moved from the NFI list to injured reserve, he is out for the season. The former first-rounder signed a futures deal with New York in January, after spending the past campaign on and off the team’s practice squad. He made just one appearance for the Giants in 2022, and will be four years removed from his career-best six-sack season with the Panthers in 2019. Butler, 29, has started 19 of his 77 career regular season games.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/23

July 27th, 2023 at 7:46pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed: WR Ty Scott

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Signed: CB Isiah Brown
  • Waived/injured: CB Jordan Perryman

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: LB Blake Lynch

New York Giants

  • Signed: DT Kevin Atkins

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Ben Burr-Kirven was a fifth-round pick by the Seahawks back in 2019, and he transformed into a key special teamer through his first two seasons in the NFL. However, he suffered a knee injury during the 2021 preseason that ended up wiping out that entire season. The issues persisted in 2022, and after spending that year on PUP, he was ultimately released in March. Coach Pete Carroll apparently reversed course and ended up bringing back the linebacker.

“He’s in a little bit of an experimental mode,” Carroll said earlier this year (via the team’s website). “The surgeries that he has had and the process he is going through, he is making progress. He’s always in the weight room with us. He’s always here working with a tremendous mentality. The nerve issues, really intricate stuff going on, so he’s had to have a really good attitude about it to stay in the fight and he is. He’s planning on getting back out there. So, we are going to give him every chance. If he can do it, this is going to be the place that he does it.”

Xavier Henderson was released today with an injury settlement, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post (via Twitter). The undrafted free agent landed on the physically unable to perform list earlier this week.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/21/23

July 21st, 2023 at 7:56pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor transactions from around the league as teams prepare their rosters for training camp:

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Washington Commanders

 

There are some big names in Baltimore that won’t be healthy to open camp. Two offensive youngsters who can’t seem to stay on the field, Dobbins and Bateman, continue to struggle to get healthy. Bateman sat out most of the spring after receiving a cortisone shot in hopes it would help get him back in time for camp. While he didn’t report, general manager Eric DeCosta expects him back soon, according to the team’s editorial director Ryan Mink. Dobbins has started thinking about his second contract this summer, and getting healthy will be key to gaining any leverage in negotiations. Ricard is no surprise, as head coach John Harbaugh predicted this placement a month ago. Bowser, though, experienced an unexpected flare up in his knee this spring after missing eight games last season.

In Cleveland, Goodwin experienced a medical scare recently when discomfort in his legs and shortness of breath turned out to be blood clots in his legs and lungs, according to James Palmer of NFL Network. He will miss the start of training camp as the clots are addressed.

In Denver, a kicking competition appears to be in the cards. The team held a workout for Maher, Elliott Fry, and Parker White back in May and ended up signing Fry. Now, with Maher joining the team, and the exit of Brandon McManus, the position battle between Maher and Fry will continue.

In Wisconsin, Gary and Stokes each ended their season after Week 9 of last year due to long-term injuries. Both will continue slowly working their way back in order to play big roles on defense.

In Vegas, Wilson, this year’s seventh overall pick, will have to be patient in finding his way to the field for his rookie year. He was expected to be cleared for training camp after ending his college career with a Lisfranc injury, but he’ll have to wait just a bit longer. The Raiders are counting on him to relieve some of the defensive responsibilities of Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby.

Browns Waive DT Perrion Winfrey

July 19th, 2023 at 9:05am CST by Sam Robinson

After a second allegation of violence against a woman surfaced, Perrion Winfrey is now on the waiver wire. The Browns cut the 2022 draft pick on Wednesday, according to a team announcement.

Winfrey is under investigation for allegedly threatening a woman with a gun Tuesday night in Cleveland, Fox 8 News reports. After Winfrey allegedly did not respond to a woman in a hotel lobby Tuesday night, Fox 8 reports the woman yelled something at the D-lineman. That prompted a threat and brandishing of a gun. Winfrey left the scene before the police arrived. No charges have been filed, but Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Winfrey is a suspect in an aggravated robbery attempt.

He had worked as a defensive tackle backup as a rookie, playing 342 defensive snaps over 13 games. The Oklahoma product was also arrested in April on a misdemeanor assault charge after he allegedly grabbed a woman he was dating and “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly” caused her bodily harm. Winfrey, 22, allegedly grabbed Brianna Mack and pulled her with his hand.

The second-year defender’s case ended up being dismissed — after the completion of a pretrial conversion program — this summer. After another incident, however, the Browns are moving on. Three years remain on Winfrey’s rookie contract.

After making minimal investments at defensive tackle last year, the Browns struggled to defend the run. They now have a new defensive coordinator (Jim Schwartz) and a new D-tackle anchor — in ex-Giants and Vikings cog Dalvin Tomlinson. In addition to Tomlinson’s four-year, $57MM deal, the Browns used a third-round pick on a D-tackle, drafting Baylor’s Siaki Ika. The team also has fourth-year contributor Jordan Elliott, who started all 17 games at the position last season. Veterans Maurice Hurst and Trysten Hill are also now with the team.

Pro Football Focus rated Winfrey and Elliott as two of the league’s worst D-tackle regulars last season, slotting each in the bottom 12 at the position. Browns coaches benched Winfrey at points due to maturity issues. The 6-foot-4 D-lineman was a healthy scratch in multiple games last season. Winfrey also landed in concussion protocol at one point, and part of the absence was related to a scooter accident.

USFL QBs Alex McGough, De’Andre Johnson Drawing NFL Interest

July 17th, 2023 at 9:05pm CST by Ben Levine

A pair of USFL quarterbacks are drawing significant interest around the NFL. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 (via Twitter), Alex McGough has “multiple upcoming NFL workouts” and has “drawn interest from roughly a third of the league.” Meanwhile, De’Andre Johnson is also drawing interest from teams, including the Browns and Texans, per Wilson (on Twitter).

McGough was a 2018 seventh-round pick by the Seahawks, but he spent the majority of his rookie campaign on the practice squad. The FIU product later had stints with the Jaguars and Texans before returning to Seattle in late 2020.

The quarterback was later the sixth-overall pick in the 2022 USFL Draft. He didn’t play a whole lot during his first season in the league, but his 2023 campaign clearly helped put him back on the NFL radar. McGough won the league’s MVP and guided his Birmingham Stallions to the league championship, completing 67.4 percent of his passes for 2,105 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He added another 403 yards and five scores on the ground.

Johnson’s collegiate career saw him join East Mississippi’s “Last Chance U” after getting dismissed from Florida State. He later moved on to Texas Southern before going undrafted in 2020. Since then, he spent time in The Spring League before joining the USFL for the 2022 campaign. Through two season in the league, the quarterback has thrown for only 1,712 yards, but he’s added 671 rushing yards (to go along with six rushing touchdowns).

Considering the dual-threat nature of these two players, there’s a chance they’re drawing NFL interest for positions other than quarterback. The Browns don’t seem to have a major need for a quarterback; behind Deshaun Watson, they have a grouping that includes veteran Joshua Dobbs, rookie fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and former third-round pick Kellen Mond. The same goes for the Falcons, who seem to have a set depth chart in Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, and Logan Woodside.

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