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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/4/15

November 4th, 2015 at 4:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL, updated throughout the day:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed: RB Mike Gillislee (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)

    • New Orleans Saints

    New York Giants

    New York Jets

    • Signed: WR Shane Wynn (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post)
    • Cut: FB Julian Howsare

    San Diego Chargers

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    NFC Notes: Niners, Kaepernick, Saints

    October 30th, 2015 at 5:20pm CST by Luke Adams

    When asked about a report that he got into an altercation with left tackle Joe Staley, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis offered up a denial, as Eric Branch of The San Francisco Chronicle writes.

    “I don’t recall that,” Davis said “I don’t know where that’s coming from. It’s funny to me. He’s been like a brother to me… We’ve had arguments in the past. My first year, I remember, I came here and we got into it. We got into right then and seconds later we were hanging out, laughing and drinking sodas together.”

    While Davis claims the incident didn’t happen, several reporters have suggested that a skirmish between Staley and Davis arose after the tight end called out quarterback Colin Kaepernick in a players-only meeting. Here’s more on the Niners, along with a few other NFC teams:

    • 49ers CEO Jed York and GM Trent Baalke should step up right now and squash the rumblings about Kaepernick’s future with the organization, Tim Kawakami of The Mercury News writes. Kawakami feels that the front office can put the QB’s mind at ease by saying that the Niners still plan on building around him, but the team yet to do so. The franchise also allowed speculation to run rampant over ex-coach Jim Harbaugh, whom some might say was San Francisco’s best coach in decades.
    • In his latest piece for TheMMQB.com, former Packers executive Andrew Brandt examines a pair of NFC East defensive ends, writing that the Cowboys will be negotiating against themselves if they try to extend Greg Hardy, and suggesting that Jason Pierre-Paul‘s fireworks accident will likely end up costing him about $7-10MM in salary this season.
    • When the Saints traded defensive lineman Akiem Hicks to New England for tight end Michael Hoomanawanui earlier this season, many pundits didn’t like the deal for New Orleans. However, as Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune writes, Hoomanawanui has seen more playing time than Hicks on his new team, and has allowed the Saints to bring a new wrinkle to their offense, with multiple three-tight-end sets.
    • The Saints tried out defensive back Brandon Dixon on Thursday, according to a source who spoke with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).

    Zach Links contributed to this post.

    NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/15

    October 1st, 2015 at 3:35pm CST by Luke Adams

    Here are the practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL for the first day of October:

    Cleveland Browns

    Kansas City Chiefs

    New England Patriots

    New York Jets

    • Signed: DL Deon Simon (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News)

    San Diego Chargers

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/22/15

    September 22nd, 2015 at 8:30pm CST by Luke Adams

    Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:

    Arizona Cardinals

    Carolina Panthers

    • Signed: WR Damiere Byrd (Twitter link via David Newton of ESPN.com)
    • Cut: LB Brian Blechen

    Chicago Bears

    Cleveland Browns

    Dallas Cowboys

    • Signed: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

    Indianapolis Colts

    Jacksonville Jaguars

    • Signed: T Tyrus Thompson (Twitter link via agent Ken Sarnoff)

    Oakland Raiders

    Philadelphia Eagles

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    • Cut: WR Rannell Hall (Twitter link via Jenna Laine of Sports Talk Florida)

    AFC Rumors: Jets, Ravens, Workouts

    September 19th, 2015 at 1:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

    Despite signing a four-year, $16MM extension last October, Jeremy Kerley played just one snap for the Jets in Week 1 and doesn’t appear to have a role in Chan Gailey‘s offense. Gailey prefers receivers play different positions. Kerley’s skill set is mostly limited to slot work, putting his future with the team in doubt, according to Dom Cosentino of NJ.com. Kerley, who established career highs with 56 catches for 827 yards in 2012, missed time this summer with an Achilles injury and a concussion, leading to being phased out of the offense thus far. “We started molding [the offense] around other things, and we are where we are,” Gailey told media. Eric Decker played 43 snaps in the slot last week.

    Here are some other items emerging from other AFC locales.

    • With Eugene Monroe set to miss tomorrow’s Ravens-Raiders game due to a concussion sustained in the first half of Week 1, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com posits the Ravens are not receiving good value from Monroe after he signed a five-year, $37.5MM deal last season. Monroe’s latest absence will mark the sixth time the Baltimore left tackle’s missed a game since signing that extension, and after quality seasons prior to last, Monroe graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 63rd-ranked tackle last year.
    • The Colts worked out cornerback Brandon Dixon, Bill Bentley and Robert McClain, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter) the latter of the trio having 17 career starts to his credit. The Patriots cut the 27-year-old McClain earlier this month after signing the ex-Falcon this offseason. A former Division II All-American and twin brother of Saints cornerback Brian Dixon, Brandon Dixon played 14 games last season for the Buccaneers. Bentley, a 2012 third-rounder, started eight games for the Lions in 2012-13 but ended up on injured reserve last season after playing in just one game.
    • The Browns worked out linebacker Jayson DiManche, and defensive ends Cam Johnson and Nordly Capi, Wilson tweets. DiManche played in 28 games for the Bengals the past two seasons, with Johnson suiting up in 13 for the 49ers and Colts in the past three.
    • In addition to trying out Bernard Pollard on Friday, the Raiders also brought in free safeties Durrell Eskridge and Ryan Murphy for auditions, notes Wilson (on Twitter).

    Colts Place D’Joun Smith On IR-DTR

    September 18th, 2015 at 2:31pm CST by Luke Adams

    It’s been an active day of roster moves for the Colts, who have now made multiple changes to their active roster and practice squad in preparation for their Week 2 game against the Jets. According to a press release, the Colts have placed cornerback D’Joun Smith on the injured reserve list with the designation to return, promoting cornerback Eric Patterson from their practice squad to take Smith’s roster spot.

    In addition to those moves affecting the 53-man roster, the club has also cut guard Robert Myers from its practice squad, adding guard David Arkin and cornerback Brandon Dixon to get back up to 10 players (Twitter link).

    Several Indianapolis cornerbacks have been sidelined from practices this week with injuries, including Darius Butler, Greg Toler, and Smith, who was selected 65th overall back in May by the Colts. As such, it makes sense that the club would want to add some depth to its secondary to get through this weekend’s game.

    A former Florida Atlantic defensive back, Smith was inactive for his first game in the NFL last week, and now he’ll miss at least the next eight weeks of action. The 22-year-old, who is battling a knee injury, will be eligible to return to practice in Week 8, but he won’t see the field in a game until at least Week 11, following the Colts’ Week 10 bye.

    Indianapolis becomes the league’s 13th team to use its IR-DTR slot this season. The full recap of how teams have used that designation can be found right here.

    NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/12/15

    September 12th, 2015 at 8:53pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

    Here are the latest practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:

    Buffalo Bills

    • Signed: DE Cedric Reed (Twitter link via ESPN’s Mike Rodak)

    San Diego Chargers

    • Signed: OT Tyreek Burwell (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune)
    • Cut: RB Dreamius Smith

    Seattle Seahawks

    • Signed: LB Nick Moody (Twitter link via The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta)
    • Cut: DB Brandon Dixon

    Buccaneers Waive Patrick Omameh, Eight Others

    September 5th, 2015 at 9:42am CST by Ben Levine

    9:42am: The Buccaneers have made another notable cut, parting ways with cornerback Isaiah Frey, per Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Frey started six games for the Bears in 2013 and saw part-time action for Chicago and Tampa Bay in 2014.

    9:22am: The Buccaneers were busy yesterday, parting ways with kicker Connor Barth and defensive lineman Da’Quan Bowers. They also added cornerback Tim Jennings, but they lost wideout Kenny Bell for the season.

    The organization continued being active today, as Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com passes along some other cuts by Tampa Bay:

    Omameh may be the most notable name on this list, as the former Michigan standout started all 16 games for the Bucs in 2014. Greene started six games for Tampa Bay during his two-year career, compiling 44 tackles and an interception.

    Minor Moves: Saturday

    September 6th, 2014 at 8:49pm CST by Ben Levine

    As most of the team’s prepare for their season-debut tomorrow, some minor moves are likely to be made. We’ll keep track of the day’s transactions right here, with the most recent moves being added to the top:

    • Defensive lineman Garrison Smith has been dropped from the Dolphins‘ practice squad in order to make room for the previously-reported addition of Brandian Ross, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
    • Wilson also clarifies (via Twitter) that Quinton Pointer‘s release from the Buccaneers, which is noted below, was an injury waiver.

    Earlier updates:

    • The Buccaneers are expected to add receiver Solomon Patton to the 53-man roster, reports Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (via Twitter). The team released cornerback Quinton Pointer and former University of Florida receiver Louis Murphy to make room for Patton and Dixon.
    • The Seahawks have waived wide receiver Phil Bates, reports Terry Blount of ESPN (via Twitter). Blount believes this will open room on the roster for a cornerback.
    • The Chargers have waived Vincent Brown after reaching an injury settlement, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). Brown will be eligible to be claimed on Monday at 4 P.M. ET.
    • The Dolphins have re-signed safety Brandian Ross to their practice squad, reports Caplan (via Twitter).
    • The Eagles have released receiver Arrelious Benn from IR with an injury settlement, reports Caplan (via Twitter).
    • The Ravens have promoted running back Fitz Toussaint from the practice squad to the active roster, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Toussaint will replace the recently released Derek Cox.
    • The Patriots have added defensive lineman Kelcy Quarles to their practice squad, according to the team’s official website. They released tight end Allen Reisner to make room.
    • Buccaneers cornerback Brandon Dixon, a sixth-round pick by the Jets this past year, will be activated from the practice squad, tweets CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora.
    • The Bengals have waived defensive end Christo Bilukidi, reports ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey (via Twitter). The team signed cornerback Onterio McCalebb off the practice squad.
    • Brandon Barden, a tight end who previously spent time with the Titans, was removed from the Jaguars injured reserve with an injury settlement, reports Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
    • Cornerback Damond Smith was removed from the Chiefs injured reserve with an injury settlement, tweets Wilson.
    • Panthers tight end D.C. Jefferson was placed on the team’s reserve/suspended list, tweets Wilson. Jefferson was previously on the team’s injured reserve list.

    11 PS Players Earning More Than The Minimum

    September 5th, 2014 at 5:13pm CST by Luke Adams

    Players on NFL practice squads are eligible to receive a minimum salary of $6,300 per week, which works out to a 17-week salary of about $107K if a player remains on his team’s practice squad for the entire season. In most cases, teams don’t pay more than the minimum to fill those practice squad spots, since clubs have much more leverage than the players vying for those 320 total openings.

    In some cases though, if a team really likes a player, or if he’s drawing interest from several teams for their practice squads, a club will increase that weekly rate. So far this year, with all 32 teams having filled up their 10-man squads, at least 11 players are known to be receiving salaries worth more than the minimum. NFL writer Brian McIntyre rounded up all those players and their salaries for us in a series of tweets, so let’s check out the full list, sorted by weekly salary:

    Magee’s practice-squad salary is the most notable on this list — his weekly figure adds up to just below $495K for the full season, which is the minimum salary for a second-year player on an active roster. In other words, if he spends the entire season on the practice squad, Magee could still earn more money than some players on active rosters, which is a sign of how much the Bucs want to keep him around.

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