The 31-year-old had one season remaining on the contract he signed almost exactly one year ago. His scheduled cap hit was just under $2.4MM, and the move save Jacksonville nearly $2MM. Already in one of the best situations in the league from a financial perspective, the Jaguars will now have roughly $40MM in cap space.

A second round pick of the 49ers in 2014, Hyde started taking on a significant role in 2016 and 2017, receiving over 200 carries in each of those seasons. He topped 1,100 scrimmage yards both times, earning him plenty of outside interest as a free agent. That offseason began a stretch which saw him land in Cleveland, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Houston, Seattle and, most recently, a second trip to Duval County. A 1,000-yard rushing campaign with the Texans in 2019 showed he was still capable of producing as a No.1 back. Since then, however, he has started only three games and totalled less than 800 yards.

Hyde will now look to get a head-start on free agency to find a new home. The Jaguars, meanwhile, will move forward with James Robinson and 2021 first-rounder Travis Etienne at the top of the backfield depth chart.

[RELATED: Brian Schottenheimer To Call Jaguars’ Plays]

Hyde has been out since Week 14, when he suffered a concussion against the Titans. His first Jaguars season will end with 253 yards off of 72 carries for a weak 3.5 yards per carry average. He also had one rushing TD plus a dozen catches for 65 yards. Of course, few players have shined in Jacksonville this season, so it’s hard to extrapolate much from those numbers.

Hyde remains under contract for 2022 thanks to his two-year, $6MM deal. However, his return is far from guaranteed. The Jaguars could move on from the 31-year-old (32 in September) to save $2MM against $450K in dead money.

The 2-12 Jaguars will face the Jets, Patriots, and Colts before wrapping their season. Currently, they’re projected to pick No. 1 overall (again), ahead of the Lions and Texans.

Arizona Cardinals

• Promoted: LB Joe Walker
• Released: TE David Wells

Atlanta Falcons

• Promoted: S Shawn Williams
• Released: CB Will Sunderland

Carolina Panthers

• Signed: K Lirim Hajrullahu
• Claimed: DE Azur Kamara (from Cowboys)
• Released from IR: T Matt Kaskey
• Placed on IR: DB A.J. Bouye

Chicago Bears

• Promoted: CB Thomas Graham
• Released: LB Ledarius Mack

Cincinnati Bengals

• Promoted: LB Keandre Jones
• Placed on IR: LB Joe Bachie

Cleveland Browns

• Promoted: DE Porter Gustin
• Released: TE Nick Guggemos, WR Alexander Hollins
• Placed on IR: Takkarist McKinley (story)

Denver Broncos

• Released: WR De’Mornay Pierson-El, LB Pita Taumoepenu, T Casey Tucker, RB Kerrith Whyte, RB Damarea Crockett
• Placed on IR: FB Andrew Beck

Detroit Lions

• Released: CB Shakur Brown

Houston Texans

• Signed: DE Ron’Dell Carter

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Placed on IR: RB, Carlos Hyde, S Rayshawn Jenkins (story)

Los Angeles Rams

• Promoted: DB Grant Haley, DB Damarious Randall
• Released: CB Delrick Abrams, T Adrian Ealy, TE Kyle Markway, C Austin Reiter
• Activated from IR: RB Jake Funk, LB Travin Howard

Minnesota Vikings

• Promoted: G Dakota Dozier
• Released: RB A.J. Rose, WR Darrius Shepherd

New York Giants

• Released: Jake Hausmann

New York Jets

• Claimed: DB Will Parks (from Dolphins)
• Placed on IR: TE Ryan Griffin

Philadelphia Eagles

• Activated from IR: G Jack Anderson

San Francisco 49ers

• LB Tyrell Adams

Seattle Seahawk

• Promoted: DT Myles Adams, RB Josh Johnson, DB Josh Jones, WR Cody Thompson

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Placed on IR: WR Chris Godwin, DE Pat O’Connor

Washington Football Team

• Promoted: RB Alex Armah, LB De’Jon Harris, QB Kyle Shurmur, T David Steinmetz
• Placed on IR: RB J.D. McKissic

• LB Matt Judon, Patriots: $18MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021), $11MM (2022), $11MM (2023), $9.5MM (2024). Up to $1MM in per-game roster bonuses, $500K All-Pro incentive between 2022 and 2024. Via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter.
• TE Jonnu Smith, Patriots: $15MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021), $9MM (2022), $10MM (2023), $11MM (2024). Up to $1MM in per-game roster bonuses. Via Yates on Twitter.
• CB Emmanuel Moseley, 49ers: $500K per-game active roster bonus in 2022. Up to $750K play-time base salary escalator in 2022. Via Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter.
• LB Markus Golden, Cardinals: two years, $5MM, $2.5MM guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021, guaranteed), $2MM (2022). Up to $250K in annual per-game roster bonuses, up to $2MM in annual sack incentives. Via Wilson on Twitter.
• OT Daryl Williams, Bills: $13.75MM guaranteed, $5.4MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021), $6.725MM (2022), $5.475MM (2023). $3MM roster bonus in 2021, $1.25MM roster bonus in 2023. Per-game roster bonuses: $250K (2021), $300K (2022-2023). $100K annual workout bonuses. $2.2MM in additional annual incentives. Via Yates on Twitter.
• RB Carlos Hyde, Jaguars: Two years, $4.5MM. $1.25MM base salary in 2021 is fully guaranteed. $900K signing bonus. Via TheMMQB’s Albert Breer on Twitter.

The veteran’s one-year stint with the Seahawks apparently improved his chances of securing a multiyear deal this time around. Hyde ultimately appeared in 10 games (one start) for Seattle, compiling 449 yards from scrimmage and four offensive touchdowns. The veteran was a 1,000-yard rusher as recently as 2019, when he ran for a career-high 1,070 yards with the Texans.

The Jaguars appear to have their long-term answer at running back in James Robinson, who ran for 1,070 yards during his rookie campaign. The 30-year-old Hyde will slide behind Robinson on the depth chart, although the Jaguars could turn to a variety of options at the position; the team is also rostering Ryquell Armstead, Devine Ozigbo, Craig Reynolds, and Nathan Cottrell.

As Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com observes, this move will reunite Hyde with his college coach, Urban Meyer. Hyde was a first-team All-Big Ten running back during his time at Ohio State.

The Seahawks signed Snacks last month and stashed him on their taxi squad for five weeks in order for the free agent to work his way into full-on game shape. Pete Carroll has expressed optimism on Harrison recently and has decided to pull the trigger on activating him.

This will mark the beginning of Snacks’ ninth NFL season. A 2016 All-Pro with the Giants, Harrison started 15 games with the Lions last season but was not especially happy in Detroit, having considered retirement. He appears to be more content in Seattle, having turned down chances at a 53-man roster spot with the Buccaneers and Dolphins this season.

While the Seahawks’ defense will need more than Harrison to bounce back from a historically dreadful start, the unit did sack Josh Allen seven times in last week’s loss in Buffalo. The Seahawks rank 29th in DVOA against the pass but are interestingly ninth in run defense. Snacks should help on that front.

Seattle also placed defensive tackle Bryan Mone on IR, activated cornerback Neiko Thorpe from IR and promoted running back Alex Collins. The latter’s elevation will help the team with backfield depth; Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde remain sidelined with injuries.

Earlier this week, Elliott was one of four players (two from the Cowboys, two from the Texans) to test positive for the coronavirus. Other players are being tested as a precaution, but no additional positive cases have emerged from either club. Furthermore, quarterback Dak Prescott did not test positive, despite hosting a widely-criticized birthday party earlier this year.

Here’s more from the NFC East:

• Eagles head coach Doug Pederson admits that he missed out on his top running back target. “We had the opportunity to possibly grab a player and he slipped through our fingers,” Pederson told WIP (via NJ.com). The Birds were connected to a few veteran RBs this summer, including Carlos Hyde, LeSean McCoy, and Devonta Freeman. Of that group, only Hyde has been signed (by the Seahawks) so Hyde is presumably the player he’s referencing. Freeman still seems to be on their radar, though teams have been warded off by his asking price. They’re open to Shady, too, but, at last check, they have not made him an offer.
• Meanwhile, the Eagles are working with the playmakers they already have in-house, including rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor. They’re planning to groom the former TCU speedster in the mold of fellow deep threat DeSean Jackson, as Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com writes. “He’s going to come in and he’s going to learn one position and he is going to learn from DeSean Jackson, and learn everything he can,” Pederson said. “Obviously the playbook is extensive and we just have to see what he’s taken from the offseason to training camp, and then once we see his potential and his growth, then we can use him in multiple spots.”
• Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan only has one year to go on his deal, but he’s hoping to stay for the duration of his career – however long that might be.
• In case you missed it, Sam Robinson reflected on the retirement of Giants quarterback Phil Simms, which played out much differently than Eli Manning‘s sendoff.

• Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll believes that new running back Carlos Hyde will be ready to go for Week 1 (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). Hyde’s camp is similarly optimistic after the veteran went under the knife to fix a torn labrum. After a rash of injuries at the position, the Seahawks are counting on the 1,000-yard rusher to stay healthy this year. For his part, Carroll says that Hyde’s presence will allow the team to gradually ease Rashaad Penny back into things.
• Carroll told reporters that Quinton Dunbar has rejoined the Seahawks for virtual offseason meetings (Twitter link via Condotta). Beyond that, Carroll offered no comment on Dunbar’s ongoing situation. Dunbar is facing four charges in connection with an alleged armed robbery in Florida. His alleged accomplice, cornerback Deandre Baker, has been kept away from offseason activities by the Giants.
• The chatter of a potential reunion between the Seahawks and Jadeveon Clowney continues, but Brady Henderson of ESPN.com gets the sense that the club is only focused on low-cost additions at this time. Earlier this year, the Seahawks reportedly put a one-year, $15MM offer on the table for the defensive end, but it seems that offer is no longer valid. The Browns saw their offer rebuffed recently and the Titans say that there hasn’t been much movement on the Clowney front.

The six-year veteran back confirmed he underwent shoulder surgery, per the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta (on Twitter). NFL.com’s Michael Silver reported the surgery was to repair a torn labrum. Hyde thinks he will be ready to participate in training camp and said he will be ready to go by Week 1, potentially indicating he might not be full-go when the Seahawks report to camp.

Penny underwent knee surgery in late December and is a candidate to begin the season on Seattle’s PUP list. Starter Chris Carson‘s season also ended early because of injury, but his hip malady did not require surgery. Nevertheless, Seattle’s backfield is not especially healthy entering the summer. Carson is expected to be ready by Week 1.

Hyde played in all 16 Texans regular-season games last year, rushing for a career-high 1,070 yards, and started in each of Houston’s two playoff contests. Hyde confirmed he suffered the injury in Week 2 of last season, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets. Despite interest from the Eagles, Hyde signed with the Seahawks after Devonta Freeman turned the team down. He is expected to supplement Carson while Penny recovers.

Here’s more from the NFC West:

• While George Kittle is believed to be next in line for a 49ers extension, running back Raheem Mostert could land a new deal before the star tight end, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes. On one hand, Mostert is certainly underpaid. He signed a three-year extension last spring with an annual value of less than $3MM. Mostert was largely a special teams player at the time, but after posting 772 yards and eight touchdowns in 2020, he’s worth more. On the other hand, San Francisco controls Mostert’s rights through the 2021 campaign, he’s already 28 years old, and running back’s shelf lives are notoriously short.
• Trent Williams played alongside a bevy of average-or-worse quarterbacks during his time with the Redskins, but the veteran left tackle believes he’s stepping into an excellent signal-caller situation with the 49ers. “I think Jimmy [Garoppolo] is awesome,” Williams told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. “I think he has proven that he’s a quarterback that you can win with…From being in my position, not having a lot of success in the league, having a good quarterback then to having a kind of musical chairs back there, I know the importance of it. So I’m extremely happy just to be part of an offense that really don’t need me to win. I add to it.” San Francisco, which acquired Williams in exchange for third- and fifth-round picks, hasn’t worked out an extension with the 31-year-old, but reportedly has agreed to give him more money upfront.
• In case you missed it, the Rams were one of several teams to gain additional cap space earlier this week thanks to the NFL’s post-June 1 release system.

The Texans offered Hyde a two-year, $10MM deal, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via ESPN 710 Seattle’s John Clayton). This offer emerged before the Texans’ blockbuster trade that involved DeAndre Hopkins going to Arizona and David Johnson taking Hyde’s place as Houston’s starting running back.

After Hyde spent nearly 2 1/2 months in free agency, he landed a one-year, $2.75MM Seahawks deal that can max out at $4MM. That agreement came together quickly, transpiring shortly after the Seahawks offering Devonta Freeman a similar contract. Freeman turned down the proposal and remains a free agent. Hyde turning down the Texans may have cost him a bit of dough. And it created quite the ripple effect.

Hyde passing on the Texans’ offer prompted them to take on one of the league’s most onerous contracts. Houston will pay Johnson $10.2MM this year. The former All-Pro back’s $13MM-per-year pact has two seasons remaining. With the Texans’ payroll also including Duke Johnson‘s $5.2MM-AAV deal, they have more than $17MM committed to the running back position this season — third-most in the league. The Seahawks’ backfield of Hyde, Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny ranks 16th in terms of 2020 cap commitment.

The Browns gave Hyde a similar deal to this Texans offer, adding him on a three-year, $15MM accord in 2018. After trades from Cleveland and Kansas City — sandwiching a stop in Jacksonville — Hyde rushed for a career-high 1,070 yards last season.

• Eli Apple, CB (Panthers): One year. $3MM, including $750K signing bonus. Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
• Anthony Chickillo, LB (Saints): One year. Veteran salary benefit. $1.047MM base salary ($68,750 guaranteed). Twitter link via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
• Carlos Hyde, RB (Seahawks): One year, max value of $4MM. $1.5MM base salary, $750K signing bonus, $500K in per game roster bonuses. Up to $1.25MM in incentives. Twitter link via Rapoport.

With Rashaad Penny‘s status uncertain, the Seahawks moved aggressively to bring in a veteran this week. They offered Freeman a deal that would have paid him $3MM in base value, with another $1MM available via incentives, but the longtime Falcons starter didn’t bite. Instead, Hyde will soon head west on a deal that will pay him up to $4MM, per Rapoport (on Twitter). It is not yet certain if the base value for Hyde — who also surfaced as a Seahawks target this week — will equal what Seattle offered Freeman.

Hyde is coming off his first 1,000-yard season. Since his 49ers exit, though, the former second-round pick has not enjoyed much stability. Hyde signed with the Browns in free agency in 2018, but the team traded him to the Jaguars. Jacksonville cut bait after the ’18 season, leading Hyde to the Chiefs. Kansas City then traded him to Houston, where he became the Texans’ primary ground-game option.

Despite a low-end contract, Hyde reeled off 1,070 yards (4.4 per carry) and six touchdowns. While Hyde has just one 1,000-yard season, he compiled back-to-back 900-plus-yard campaigns with the 2016 and ’17 49ers. Hyde turned down a Texans offer earlier this year.

The Seahawks still appear intent on keeping Chris Carson as their primary back, despite the fumbling troubles that plagued him last season, and invested a first-round pick in Penny two years ago. But they now have some insurance in Hyde, who will turn 30 in September. Such insurance may be necessary. Penny starting the season on the PUP list is a concern, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets.

Hyde’s decision may drive the Eagles — who were also interested in Hyde — to ramp up talks with Freeman. Both the Jets and Eagles are believed to be in the mix for Freeman.

Another piece of fallout from this deal could mean Marshawn Lynch returns to retirement. Earlier this month, Seahawks GM John Schneider said another deal with Lynch remained possible. Seattle re-signed Lynch after both Carson and Penny went down late last season. The popular Seahawk played in the team’s regular-season finale and both playoff games.

However, the Eagles have (or, at least, did) make offers to other veteran running backs. McLane notes that the organization made an offer to Carlos Hyde, who has since signed with the Seahawks. The organization also made an offer to Devonta Freeman, who is currently weighing his options.

We heard last week that there was some mutual interest in an Eagles/McCoy reunion. The running back spent six seasons in Philly between 2009 and 2014, earning three Pro Bowl trips and two First-Team All-Pro nods. Of course, the Eagles wouldn’t be getting that version of McCoy in 2020; despite starting 22 games for the Bills and Chiefs over the past two years, the veteran has only compiled 979 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 262 carries.

On the flip side, the Eagles probably wouldn’t be expecting a whole lot of production out of the 31-year-old (32 in July). Instead, he’ll be a mentor in a relatively young running backs room, a grouping that’s currently led by Miles Sanders and Boston Scott.

Freeman, however, is not prepared to accept the proposal, Condotta adds. The Seahawks’ desire to add a veteran to their backfield remains, though, leading the team to potentially circle back to Carlos Hyde.

A potential Seahawks-Freeman partnership surfaced Wednesday. The team is believed to have offered the two-time Pro Bowler a one-year deal worth $3MM. Freeman has also generated interest from the Eagles and Jets, and the 28-year-old back may well be holding out for more money. The Falcons released Freeman earlier this offseason. He was previously attached to a deal worth more than $8MM per year.

The Seahawks appear prepared to move on to talks with Hyde, Condotta adds. The former 49ers second-round pick has bounced around the league but is coming off his first 1,000-yard season. Seahawks interest in Hyde emerged earlier this week as well. While the six-year veteran is coming off a much better season than Freeman, he may be a cheaper option.

Both of Seattle’s top backs — Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny — went down with injuries near season’s end, leading the team to bring back Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks have not ruled out another Lynch contract. This running back interest stems from uncertainty surrounding Penny’s status. The third-year back is not certain to be ready for camp after suffering a knee injury late last season.