Caleb Sampson

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/31/23

August 31st, 2023 at 9:21pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Signed: WR Kaden Davis, OL Marquis Hayes

Baltimore Ravens

Signed: NT Bravvion Roy

Buffalo Bills

Signed: QB Shane Buechele

Chicago Bears

Signed: DL Deslin Alexandre, DL Daniel Hardy, OL Bill Murray, K John Parker Romo

Denver Broncos

Signed: TE Lucas Krull

Detroit Lions

Signed: QB David Blough, DL Quinton Bohanna, WR Daurice Fountain, DE Raymond Johnson, RB Zonovan Knight, G Michael Niese

Green Bay Packers

Signed: LB Kristian Welch

Indianapolis Colts

Signed: DT McTelvin Agim, WR Racey McMath
Released: DT Caleb Sampson, CB Kevin Toliver

Jacksonville Jaguars

Signed: DL Esezi Otomewo

Kansas City Chiefs

Signed: CB Keith Taylor, WR Montrell Washington
Released: DB Reese Taylor

Las Vegas Raiders

Signed: WR Marquez Callaway, LB Isaac Darkangelo, G Vitaliy Gurman, DE Janarius Robinson

Los Angeles Chargers

Signed: WR Alex Erickson, S Dean Marlowe, TE Nick Vannett

Miami Dolphins

Signed: TE Nick Bowers, RB Darrynton Evans, OL Chasen Hines, S Joshua Kalu, DT Rashard Lawrence, OT James Tunstall, WR Raleigh Webb, DE Chase Winovich

New England Patriots

Signed: WR Jalen Reagor

New Orleans Saints

Released: RB Tony Jones, RB Ellis Merriweather, RB Jordan Mims, LB Ty Summers

New York Giants

Signed: CB Caleb Hayes, WR Dennis Houston, TE Tyree Jackson, RB Taiwan Jones, G Jalen Mayfield, OT Jaylon Thomas
Released: CB Gemon Green, OL Tyre Phillips

New York Jets

Signed: LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball, DL Jalyn Holmes, S Tyreque Jones, OL Jason Poe, OL Ryan Swoboda, RB Xazavian Valladay

Philadelphia Eagles

Signed: DT Thomas Booker, OT Le’Raven Clark, CB Tiawan Mullen

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed: LB Tariq Carpenter, OT Kellen Diesch, WR Simi Fehoko, G Joey Fisher, DB Josiah Scott

San Francisco 49ers

Signed: CB CB Shemar Jean-Charles, K Matthew Wright

Seattle Seahawks

Signed: OL Ben Brown, CB Artie Burns, LB Jon Rhattigan, CB Robert Rochell
Released: QB Holton Ahlers, OL Greg Eiland

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, DE C.J. Brewer, OL Silas Dzansi, OT Luke Haggard, DB Keenan Isaac, WR Cephus Johnson, RB Patrick Laird, S Richard LeCounte, WR Ryan Miller, WR David Moore, DL Pat O’Connor, OL Raiqwon O’Neal, LB Jose Ramirez, LB J.J. Russell, TE Tanner Taula, QB John Wolford

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South

August 30th, 2023 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans moves are noted below.

Houston Texans

Claimed:

DB Alex Austin, G Nick Broeker

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

DT Khalil Davis, T Austin Deculus, CB Cobi Francis, DL Ali Gaye, S Brandon Hill, WR Johnny Johnson, TE Dalton Keene, OL Jimmy Morrissey, DE Adedayo Odeleye, DE Derek Rivers, WR Steven Sims, LB Garret Wallow, P Ty Zentner

Indianapolis Colts

Placed on IR:

TE Jelani Woods (story)

Signed:

WR Isaiah McKenzie (story)

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

LB Liam Anderson, S Henry Black, S Marcel Dabo, RB Jake Funk, S Ronnie Harrison (story), RB Jason Huntley, WR D.J. Montgomery, DE Al-Quadin Muhammad (story), LB Donavan Mutin, WR Amari Rodgers, DT Caleb Sampson, T Dan Skipper, WR Mike Strachan, CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart, CB Kevin Toliver, WR Juwann Winfree

Jacksonville Jaguars

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

OL Chandler Brewer, OLB D.J. Coleman, OL Coy Cronk, DL De’Shaan Dixon, CB Erick Hallett, LB Dequan Jackson, TE Derek Parish, QB Nathan Rourke, OL Darryl Williams, WR Seth Williams, CB Tevaughn Campbell, RB Snoop Conner, WR Jacob Harris

Tennessee Titans

Claimed:

CB Kindle Vildor

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

LB Chance Campbell, DB Shyheim Carter, DB Eric Garror, WR Tre’Shaun Harrison, WR Mason Kinsey, DB Armani Marsh, DE T.K. McLendon, TE Thomas Odukoya, T John Ojukwu, DE Sam Okuayinonu, DT Kyle Peko, T Andrew Rupcich, LB Thomas Rush, DT Michael Dwumfour, TE Kevin Rader, G Jordan Roos

Released:

OL Corey Levin

Released from IR via injury settlement:

CB Josh Thompson
RB Jonathan Ward

Colts Move Roster To 53

August 29th, 2023 at 4:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Some higher-profile Colts news has overshadowed their roster construction, but the Jonathan Taylor drama factors into Indianapolis’ roster construction. Here is how the team moved down to 53:

Released:

Waived:

LB Liam Anderson
S Henry Black
S Marcel Dabo
RB Jake Funk
RB Jason Huntley
DE Khalid Kareem
WR D.J. Montgomery
LB Donavan Mutin
WR Amari Rodgers
CB Darius Rush
DT Caleb Sampson
WR Mike Strachan
CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart
CB Kevin Toliver

While Funk could be a practice squad candidate, Indianapolis’ 53-man roster includes three running backs: Deon Jackson, Zack Moss and fifth-round rookie Evan Hull. Moss is rehabbing a broken arm and looms as a candidate for in-season IR. The Colts released late-summer pickup Kenyan Drake recently. The Taylor move sidelines the disgruntled All-Pro for the first four games.

Smith, Rodgers, Strachan and Winfree moving off the roster leaves only four receivers (Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and Isaiah McKenzie) on the active. It seems likely another will be added before Week 1. Even with Brown gone, Indy’s 53-man roster houses five tight ends. Jelani Woods, Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, fifth-round rookie Will Mallory and Drew Ogletree, a second-year sixth-rounder, comprise that group. This would seem to be a place the Colts would be willing to cut into, should they be awarded any players on waivers before Wednesday’s 11am CT deadline.

The Colts added Harrison this offseason, signing the former Browns safety after the Browns brought in 2022 Colts cog Rodney McLeod. It should be expected Harrison, who is going into his sixth season, lands somewhere soon. Teams can keep up to six vested veterans on their respective practice squads, leaving the door ajar for Harrison — who only signed with the Colts on Aug. 14 — to stay. The 26-year-old defender has 45 starts on his resume.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/28/23

August 28th, 2023 at 8:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

We are less than 24 hours from the deadline for NFL teams to trim their rosters to 53 players. Here are the latest moves teams have made as they pare their squads down toward the in-season limit:

Baltimore Ravens

Released: DB DeAndre Houston-Carson
Waived: DT Trey Botts, DB Kaieem Caesar, WR Dontay Demus, OL Jake Guidone, DB Corey Mayfield, LB Kelle Sanders

Chicago Bears

Waived: LB Kuony Deng, OL Gabe Houy, LB Buddy Johnson, TE Jared Pinkney, WR Joe Reed, TE Jake Tonges

Cleveland Browns

Placed on reserve/NFI list: G Drew Forbes
Released: G Wes Martin

Dallas Cowboys

Released: DE Ben Banogu

Denver Broncos

Waived: ILB Austin Ajiake

Detroit Lions

Waived: OL Connor Galvin, CB Chase Lucas

Indianapolis Colts

Waived: LB Donavan Mutin, DT Caleb Sampson, OL Dakoda Shepley

Jacksonville Jaguars

Waived: WR Kevin Austin, FB Derek Parish, QB Nathan Rourke

Los Angeles Chargers

Waived: LB Tae Crowder, QB Max Duggan

Los Angeles Rams

Waived: LB Kelechi Anyalebechi, WR Braxton Burmeister, DB Timarcus Davis, DB Tyon Davis, DB Vincent Gray, WR Tyler Hudson, DB Tanner Ingle, DB Jordan Jones, G Sean Maginn, WR Lance McCutcheon, TE Camren McDonald, TE Christian Sims, DT Taron Vincent
Waived/injured: LB Ryan Smenda

Miami Dolphins

Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Tino Ellis

Minnesota Vikings

Released: LB Jake Gervase
Waived: DL Calvin Avery, CB Kalon Barnes, CB C.J. Coldon, T Christian DiLauro, CB Jameson Houston, WR Garett Maag, RB Abram Smith, OL Josh Sokol, QB Jordan Ta’amu, TE Colin Thompson
Waived/injured: CB Tay Gowan

New England Patriots

Waived: P Corliss Waitman

New Orleans Saints

Waived: LB Nick Anderson, WR Kawaan Baker, FB Jake Bargas, DT Prince Emili

New York Giants

Waived/injured: G Jack Anderson, G Wyatt Davis, DB Zyon Gilbert
Placed on IR: TE Chris Myarick

New York Jets

Released: CB Craig James, OL Greg Senat, LB Pita Taumoepenu
Placed on IR: CB Jimmy Moreland

Pittsburgh Steelers

Released: OL Le’Raven Clark
Waived: OL William Dunkle, S Jalen Elliott, RB Darius Hagans, CB Lavert Hill, DL Manny Jones, QB Tanner Morgan, LB Tanner Muse, LB Toby Ndukwe, S Kenny Robinson

Seattle Seahawks

Waived: CB Arquon Bush, TE Griffin Hebert, WR Tyjon Lindsey, T Jalen McKenzie, T Liam Ryan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Waived: WR Taye Barber, LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, RB Ronnie Brown, DB Anthony Chesley, TE Dominique Dafney, WR Kaylon Geiger, WR Cephus Johnson, WR Ryan Miller, OL John Molchon, OL Michael Niese, T Raiqwon O’Neal, DL Willington Previlon, DL Deadrin Senat, S Nolan Turner, WR Kade Warner, CB Rodarius Williams, S Aaron Young

Tennessee Titans

Waived: TE Alize Mack, DB Josh Thompson, RB Jonathan Ward
Placed on IR: RB Hassan Haskins

Colts Announce 15-Man UDFA Class

May 5th, 2023 at 8:16pm CST by Ely Allen

The Colts added some important pieces in their 12-man 2023 draft class last weekend and added more today with the announcement of 15 undrafted free agent rookie signings. Here are the undrafted names joining a rather large rookie contingent:

LB Liam Anderson (Holy Cross)
WR Cody Chrest (Sam Houston State)
CB Cole Coleman (Elon)
G Emil Ekiyor (Alabama)
RB Darius Hagans (Virginia State)
WR Johnny King (Southeast Missouri State)
G Harris LaChance (BYU)
S Aaron Maddox (Campbell)
LB Donavan Mutin (Houston)
CB Tyler Richardson (Tiffin)
DT Caleb Sampson (Kansas)
WR Zavier Scott (Maine)
RB Titus Swen (Wyoming)
DE Guy Thomas (Colorado)
WR Braxton Westfield (Carson-Newman)

Indianapolis invested a strong $100,000 guaranteed amount to lure Mutin out of Houston, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Mutin concluded his five-year career with the Cougars leading the team in total tackles in both of the last two years. The physical linebacker’s smaller stature (6-0, 230 pounds) didn’t stop him from making big plays at the college level as he concluded his time in Texas with 18.0 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, four passes defensed, three sacks, and an interception.

Ekiyor was a three-year starter with the Crimson Tide as a guard. He was coming off of an injury to start his redshirt senior season but still managed to start 12 of Alabama’s 13 games. A physical presence on the interior line, Ekiyor led a talented offensive line with 31 knockdown blocks.

The Colts added a few pass catchers to a wide receiving corps rife with opportunities. King adds some legitimate size at 6-foot-4. Chrest was an All-WAC second-team selection in each of the last two years after tallying 1,252 receiving yards and seven touchdowns over those two seasons. Scott is an intriguing weapon who was as much a threat rushing the ball for the Black Bears in 2022 (371 yards, four touchdowns) as he was catching the ball (434 yards and a touchdown).

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/31/23

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

Colts Move Roster To 53

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Placed on reserve/PUP:

Placed on reserve/suspended list:

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/28/23

Colts Announce 15-Man UDFA Class