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Chris Harper (Kansas St.)

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/14/16

September 14th, 2016 at 5:47pm CST by Zachary Links

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: DL Jimmy Staten (Twitter link via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com)

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: WR Josh Boyce (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal)

New England Patriots

Oakland Raiders

  • Signed: DE Jimmy Bean (Twitter link via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com)
  • Cut: LB Curtis Grant

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: DT Rodney Coe (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of WFLA)

Washington Redskins

  • Signed: C Austin Reiter (Twitter link via Mike Jones of the Washington Post)

Workout Notes: Bears, Broncos, Patriots

December 22nd, 2015 at 5:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Clubs continue to update their emergency lists as the season winds down, so let’s take a look at the latest workouts from around the league…

  • We’ve learned the names of half of the eight players the Broncos worked out today, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that in addition to the previously-reported Still, Denver tried out defensive end DeAngelo Tyson, linebacker Dekoda Watson, and defensive tackle Phil Taylor.
  • The Colts also tried out a couple of additional players, including kick returner Demarius Washington and defensive back Terell Floyd, tweets Wilson.
  • Looking for depth along their front seven, the Texans worked out linebackers Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo and Xzavier Dickson, per Wilson (Twitter link).

Earlier updates:

  • The Bears auditioned six players today, including running backs Vick Ballard and Alonzo Harris, receiver Chris Harper, and defensive linemen Davon Coleman, Euclid Cummings, and Keith Browner (Twitter links via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). The 25-year-old Ballard is the most notable name here, as he ran for more than 800 yards during his rookie season with the Colts before suffering a string of injuries.
  • Not to be outdone, the Broncos tried out eight players, including former Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, per Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link). Still, a former second-round pick, hasn’t played in 2015, but after announcing last month that his daughter’s cancer is in remission, he surely has many around the NFL rooting for him.
  • The Patriots brought in a pair of CFL defensive ends for workouts, auditioning Freddie Bishop and Cleyon Laing earlier today, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/15

September 28th, 2015 at 9:39pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves..

  • The Giants cut wide receiver Chris Harper from IR, the Raiders cut offensive lineman Anthony Morris from IR, and the Chargers cut Gordon Hill from IR, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
  • The Dolphins will sign offensive lineman Mike Leidtke to their taxi squad, as agent Brett Tessler tweets. Liedtke, an Illinois State product, recently auditioned for the Saints and Jets.
  • The Raiders released cornerback Chimdi Chekwa from their injured reserve list, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The defensive back was drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
  • The Rams will sign wide receiver Nick Toon, a source tells Ross Jones of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Toon had workouts with the Rams and Seahawks last week.
  • To make room for Dion Bailey, the Jets waived Ronald Martin, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets. New York claimed Martin from Seattle just a few weeks ago.
  • The Cowboys cut backup defensive tackle Davon Coleman, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets.

More Minor NFL Transactions: 8/7/15

August 7th, 2015 at 5:41pm CST by Luke Adams

We rounded up several minor transactions from around the league earlier today, but teams have been busy since then, so we’ve got many more moves to recap. Here’s the latest:

  • The Cowboys have signed offensive tackle Cody Clay after a workout, reports Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com (via Twitter). The team waive/injured linebacker Will Smith, who was unavailable due to a groin injury.
  • Isaiah Pead and the Rams have agreed a new deal for the final year of his contract on July 30th, reports Howard Balzer of FoxSportsMidwest.com (via Twitter). His base salary was reduced from $940,650 to $585,000 for 2015 (via Twitter).
  • Veteran tight end Alex Smith – not to be confused with the quarterback of the same name – has signed with the Saints, who waived rookie tight end Jack Tabb with an injury designation, tweets Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
  • The Steelers have placed defensive end Clifton Geathers on their injured reserve list, signing free agent defensive tackle Joe Okafor to take his place, the team announced today (via Twitter). As a veteran player, Geathers didn’t have to pass through waivers before landing on IR.
  • In addition to confirming the previously-reported signing of running back Michael Ford, the Falcons also made a few more moves. As Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter), the club signed tight end D.J. Tialavea, waived wide receiver Freddie Martino, and waived/injured tight Beau Gardner, who injured his knee.
  • Safety Robert Smith, waived yesterday by the Colts, has been claimed by the Seahawks, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Seattle cut safety Ty Zimmerman to clear room on the roster.
  • The Titans have made a change at the fullback position, signing Zach Boren and waiving undrafted rookie Connor Neighbors with an injury designation, according to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online (Twitter link).
  • The Giants have signed rookie safety Justin Halley, waiving receiver Chris Harper with an injured designation to create an opening on the roster, per Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter link).
  • The Patriots have reached an injury settlement with defensive lineman Vince Taylor, removing him from their injured reserve list, tweets Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe.

Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday

October 14th, 2014 at 9:12pm CST by Luke Adams

While we track today’s transactions relating to teams’ 53-man rosters in a separate post, we’ll use this space to keep tabs on the day’s practice squad signings and cuts. Here’s the latest:

  • The Redskins signed wide receiver Rashad Ross to the practice squad, tweets John Keim of ESPN.com. Washington liked Ross this summer and they scooped him up after he was discarded by the Bears.
  • A day after being waived by the Bears, linebacker Terrell Manning has rejoined the team’s practice squad, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).
  • The Redskins have parted ways with practice squad wideout Marvin McNutt, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times.
  • As the Giants weight their options at receiver on the 53-man roster, they’ve made a change to the wideouts on their practice squad — Jordan Raanan of NJ.com tweets that Chris Harper has replaced Travis Harvey.
  • Wide receiver Patrick Edwards is the newest addition to the Lions‘ practice squad, replacing defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins, per Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (Twitter link).

Earlier updates:

  • Linebacker Kaelin Burnett and cornerback Ross Weaver have found a new home, joining the Cardinals‘ practice squad, per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link). The team had one opening on its squad, so linebacker Jonathan Brown has been released to make room for the second incoming player.
  • The Dolphins have parted ways with wideout Marcus Thigpen, replacing him on their practice squad with defensive back Rod Sweeting, tweets Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  • The Jaguars have signed tight end Michael Flacco, the brother of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union notes (via Twitter) that Flacco replaces tight end Marcel Jensen, who was put on the practice squad IR list.
  • Wide receiver Lee Doss has been cut from the Browns‘ practice squad, according to Wilson (via Twitter).

Extra Points: Peterson, Blackmon, Redskins

October 1st, 2014 at 9:23pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL announced today that they have inked a new multi-year deal with DirectTV. Terms weren’t disclosed, but a source with knowledge of the deal told ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell that the pact is for eight years. The right fee was worth an average of $1.5 billion a year, up 50% from the $1 billion a year average DirecTV will pay through this season. Here’s more from around the league..

  • One of the topics on the agenda for the NFL owners meetings next week will be to discuss how teams should be financially responsible for players who are banned while being paid full salaries, sources told Ed Werder of ESPN.com. The Vikings are paying Adrian Peterson his full salary and the Panthers are doing the same with Greg Hardy per the conditions of the commissioner’s exempt list. One model that could be discussed is whether all teams should share the financial burden in such extreme situations.
  • Suspended Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon has voluntarily checked into a treatment facility and coach Gus Bradley says he’s “doing very well,” writes Mark Long of The Associated Press. Of course, given his litany of off-the-field problems and status with the league office, we shouldn’t expect to see the former first-round pick back on the gridiron anytime soon.
  • Former Dolphins quarterback Pat Devlin worked out for the Redskins on Monday, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • In addition to safety Jamarca Sanford, who they signed earlier this week, the Redskins also worked out defensive backs Robert Steeples, Charles Mitchell, and Thomas Wolfe, guard William Campbell, wide receivers Chris Harper and Vidal Hazelton, and tackle Richard Muldrow. according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter links).
  • Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is glad that his team picked up center A.Q. Shipley just before the season started, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. “A.Q. has done a great job of coming in, being a pro,” quarterback Andrew Luck said. “Came in the Monday before we played our opener, and starts that opener. Heck of a job, and I’m glad that we had history beforehand from my rookie year where we played a bunch of games together…He’s a consummate professional and the type of teammate, the type of guy you want in a locker room.” Shipley faces his former team, the Ravens, this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

East Notes: Dolphins, Pats, Giants, Redskins

September 3rd, 2014 at 9:17am CST by Luke Adams

While most teams around the NFL have set their 53-man rosters and 10-man practice squads for the season, we shouldn’t expect those clubs to just sit on their hands going forward. Many clubs have been auditioning players this week for potential spots on the active roster or practice squad, including several teams from the NFL’s two East divisions. Via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who passes along the latest updates in a series of tweets, here are the latest items out of the AFC and NFC East:

AFC South Notes: Watt, Colts, Jaguars, Titans

September 2nd, 2014 at 7:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The Texans held all the cards but did the right thing in extending superstar defensive end J.J. Watt, writes Andrew Brandt of The MMQB. Watt’s contributions, he argues, go far beyond what he does on the field individually. As a team without a franchise quarterback, Watt is the locker room leader and beloved in Houston. Here’s more from the AFC South..

  • Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap gives his initial thoughts on Watt’s $100MM deal. The contract now sets the market for the young pass rusher in the NFL and it’s good news for Robert Quinn, Muhammad Wilkerson, Greg Hardy and others who were watching Watt’s situation with great interest.
  • In an interview on 1070 The Fan, Colts GM Ryan Grigson made it sound as though an offensive line signing is on the way, tweets Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. He also intimated that the addition will happen at offensive tackle where Xavier Nixon and Joe Reitz are hurt.
  • The Jaguars worked out wide receivers Jace Davis and Chris Harper, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Jacksonville also got a look at defensive tackle Hebron Fangupo before he signed with the Chiefs’ practice squad and linebacker Jackson Jeffcoat before he hooked on with the Redskins’ taxi squad. The Jags added Tony Washington to their practice squad a few days ago, so it’s not clear if Davis or Harper could fit in.
  • The Titans brought in defensive back Crezdon Butler for a visit today, a league source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Butler last played for the Chargers.

Packers Release Seven Players

August 24th, 2014 at 12:46pm CST by Rory Parks

The Packers have cut the following seven players, tweets Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com:

Meanwhile, Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel tweets that B.J. Raji, Jared Abbrederis, and Don Barclay are headed to the IR. The Packers’ currently have 81 players on their roster.

Giants Sign 13 Players To Futures Contracts

January 7th, 2014 at 5:18pm CST by Luke Adams

JANUARY 7TH: The Giants signed quarterback Ricky Stanzi to a reserve/futures deal, according to Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger (via Twitter). Combined with their signing of kicker Chris Boswell from earlier today, the tally is now up to 13 for Big Blue.

DECEMBER 29TH: Joining a handful of other teams, the Giants have signed several players to reserve/futures contracts today, locking them up for the offseason. According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter links), the following 11 players signed deals with New York today:

Of those 11 players, nine were on the team’s practice squad at season’s end. Jackson and Malone are the new additions, while cornerback Victor Hampton was the only taxi squad player not to receive a new deal.