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Chris Owusu

Jets Activate Stevan Ridley From PUP

October 30th, 2015 at 2:26pm CST by Luke Adams

Less than a week after falling to the Patriots, the Jets have activated a former New England running back. The team announced today (via Twitter) that it has moved Stevan Ridley from the physically unable to perform list to the active roster, waiving wide receiver Chris Owusu with an injured designation.

Ridley, 26, compiled 340 yards and two touchdowns on 94 rushing attempts last season for the Patriots before suffering an ACL and MCL injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year. The recovery timetable for that injury stretched into the 2015 preseason and the first several weeks of the regular season, prompting the Jets to put Ridley on the PUP list after signing him back in April.

Chris Ivory has been bothered by a minor hamstring injury, but he’s expected to play this week, and has averaged 100 yards per game in his five contests this season. With Bilal Powell sidelined due to an ankle issue, Ridley will likely split backup duties with Zac Stacy.

While Ridley won’t necessarily be counted on to have a significant role in the Jets’ offense, he has a decent track record, having racked up 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground back in 2012. Fumbling issues reduced his playing time in New England, but the Jets were willing to give him a little guaranteed money – along with $350K in per-game roster bonuses – on his one-year deal, so they’ll certainly use him in the second half of the season.

As for Owusu, he has been bothered by concussion issues throughout his playing career. He’ll revert to the Jets’ injured reserve list, assuming he goes unclaimed on waivers and the team doesn’t work out an injury settlement with him.

Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC East

September 6th, 2015 at 5:08pm CST by Luke Adams

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets are noted below.

Additionally, as of 11:00am today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Buffalo Bills

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

  • Claimed off waivers:
  • Cut:
  • Signed to practice squad:

New York Jets

  • Signed:
  • Claimed off waivers:
  • Cut:
  • Signed to practice squad (press release):
    • LB Deion Barnes
    • FB Julian Howsare
    • LB Taiwan Jones
    • CB Keon Lyn
    • WR Walter Powell
    • TE Wes Saxton
    • T Wesley Johnson (Twitter link via Adam Caplan)
    • DL Jordan Williams

Jets Trim Roster To 53 Players

September 5th, 2015 at 1:48pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jets have officially announced the cuts and other roster moves that will get their squad down to 53 players today. We’ve already heard about several of the moves — quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Josh Johnson, along with veteran defenders Jason Babin and Joe Mays, have been cut, and Stevan Ridley has been moved to the reserve/PUP list.

Here are the rest of the Jets’ moves to reduce their roster to 53, via a team release:

Cut:

  • WR Shaq Evans
  • WR Chris Owusu
  • WR Walter Powell
  • TE Arthur Lynch
  • TE Wes Saxton
  • RB Daryl Richardson
  • FB Julian Howsare
  • OL Charles Brown
  • OL Wesley Johnson
  • DL Ronald Talley
  • DL Jordan Williams
  • LB Deion Barnes
  • LB Taiwan Jones
  • CB Keon Lyn
  • S Durell Eskridge

Reserve/suspended:

  • OL Oday Aboushi
  • DL Sheldon Richardson

Minor Moves: Thursday

December 4th, 2014 at 2:40pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll round up Thursday’s minor moves from around the NFL, including practice squad signings and cuts, in the space below, with the latest items added to the top of the page throughout the day:

  • The Jets have replaced on wide receiver on their 53-man roster with another, placing Greg Salas on injured reserve today and promoting Chris Owusu from their practice squad (Twitter link). After catching eight balls for 167 yards this season, Salas sees his year come to an early end due to a hamstring injury.
  • Chargers guard Ryan Miller fell victim to rainy conditions in San Diego this week, with head coach Mike McCoy indicating that Miller slipped before practice yesterday and has suffered a concussion. San Diego placed Miller on their reserve/non-football injury list, replacing him on the active roster with offensive lineman Jeff Baca, per a team release. Baca’s spot on the Chargers’ taxi squad, meanwhile, has been filled by offensive lineman Bryce Quigley.

Minor Moves: Monday

November 3rd, 2014 at 7:11pm CST by Luke Adams

As teams deal with Week 9 injuries and look ahead to Week 10, we can expect to see several clubs tweak the backs of their 53-man rosters and their practice squads. Here are Monday’s latest minor transactions:

  • The Dolphins have placed safety Michael Thomas on injured reserve after he suffered a significant chest injury in Sunday’s game, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). To take his place on the roster, Miami signed fellow S Jordan Kovacs off the Eagles’ practice squad, per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). The Fins will also add tight end Jake Stoneburner to its taxi squad, tweets Salguero.
  • Two Buccaneers players, defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and fullback Jorvorskie Lane, have been reinstated from the suspended list, according to Howard Balzer (Twitter link).
  • The Buccaneers have waived defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo, reports Caplan (on Twitter). The 2012 undrafted free agent played in one game this season for Tampa Bay.
  • Because return man Trindon Holliday was waived/injured, and has now cleared waivers, he has reverted to the Buccaneers’ injured reserve list, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
  • More Bucs news, as the club has made several changes to its practice squad. Tampa added linebacker Denicos Allen and tight end Ted Bolser to its taxi squad, while cutting fullback Lonnie Pryor and linebacker Mister Alexander, says Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (via Twitter).
  • To make room for Square (referenced below), the Chargers have cut safety Adrian Phillips, who was just signed on Saturday, per Wilson (Twitter link).
  • The Bengals announced several changes to its practice squad, tweets Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. We learned earlier today that linebacker Khairi Fortt was lost to the Jaguars, but the team also cut tight end Kevin Greene. To replace them, Cincinnati signed tight end Jake Murphy and linebacker Justin Jackson.
  • The Cardinals have re-signed defensive tackle Bruce Gaston, who was let go on Saturday, to their taxi squad, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter).
  • The Jets have made an addition to their PS, bringing in receiver Chris Owusu, per Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link). Owusu caught 13 balls for the Buccaneers last season.

Earlier updates:

  • Defensive end Damion Square, who was cut by the Chiefs on Saturday, has been claimed off waivers by the division-rival Chargers, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter). San Diego doesn’t have an open roster spot, so the team will need to make a corresponding move for the transaction to become official.
  • The Bills have filled their lone open roster spot by claiming safety Jerome Couplin off waivers from the Lions, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
  • The Lions have made a few changes to their practice squad, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, who tweets that the team has added tight end Jordan Thompson, cornerback Trevin Wade, and defensive tackle Roy Philon, releasing tight end Ifeanyi Momah.
  • After working them out earlier, the Vikings have signed quarterback Pat Devlin and tight end Rashaun Allen to their taxi squad, according to Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (via Twitter). To make space on the unit, the team moved quarterback Chandler Harnish to the practice squad IR list and cut tight end Ryan Otten.
  • Fullback Michael Zordich has signed with the Saints‘ practice squad, according to his agency, Tier 1 Sports Management (Twitter link).
  • The Buccaneers are set to sign tackle Matt Patchan to their practice squad, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Minor Moves: Saturday

November 1st, 2014 at 5:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are today’s minor transactions, with the most recent updates added to the top of the list…

  • Wideout Bryan Walters has been cut by the Seahawks, who have promoted practice squad safety Terrance Parks to take his place on the roster, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. As Condotta observes (Twitter links), the move adds depth at safety with a couple players ailing, and leaves Seattle with five active receivers.
  • The Lions have released safety Jerome Couplin and tight end Jordan Thompson, reports Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter). One of those roster spots would likely go to Kyle Van Noy who is set to return to action next week. The other could go to a defensive tackle, with Nick Fairley set to miss this Sunday’s game.
  • The Chargers have released running back Shaun Draughn, reports Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego (via Twitter). The team signed safety Adrian Phillips into that roster spot.

Earlier updates:

  • The 49ers have promoted cornerback Leon McFadden to their active roster, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter).
  • The Cardinals have promoted running back Kerwynn Williams to the active roster, reports Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. To make room on the roster, the team parted ways with defensive tackle Bruce Gaston. Urban notes that Gaston could return to the team next week.
  • The Jets have promoted quarterback Matt Simms and cut wideout Chris Owusu, tweets Aaron Wilson. Simms, the son of former Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms, is likely insurance for the Jets in case Geno Smith is unable to suit up.
  • The Chiefs have promoted safety Daniel Sorensen from their practice squad, tweets Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star. To make room on the roster, the team released defensive lineman Damion Square.
  • Washington will release defensive end Clifton Geathers and will activate former fourth round pick Phillip Thomas to the active roster, reports ESPN 980 Radio (confirmed by ESPN’s John Keim). Geathers has been with seven different squads since entering the league in 2010. He signed with Washington this past offseason. Thomas still hasn’t made an NFL appearance since being selected by Washington in last year’s draft.

New York Notes: Umenyiora, Giants, Jets

October 1st, 2014 at 7:54pm CST by Zachary Links

No one is immune from a bad fantasy beat, including NFL players themselves. This week, Giants tight end Larry Donnell opted to bench himself in favor of Vernon Davis, as Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record writes. If Donnell had enough confidence in himself, he would have been the beneficiary of his career-best performance that included seven catches for 54 yards and three touchdowns and he wouldn’t have lost by 15 points. They say you should always start your studs, but there are always exceptions. And besides, Donnell himself is looking like a stud performer himself. Here’s more from exit 16W..

  • Falcons veteran Osi Umenyiora wouldn’t come right out and say it, but it sounds like he misses being with the Giants, Tom Rock of Newsday writes. “I think I did what was best for me and the Giants did what was best for them,” he said. “That’s pretty much the only way I can answer that. Do I wish I was still there? Who knows what would have happened if I was still there? Nobody knows, so I can’t look back at that with regret and I’m sure they don’t look back at it with regret either.”
  • Jets coach Rex Ryan clarified a comment made earlier in the week and explained that any decision to bench a player mid-game would be his to make, writes Jane McManus of ESPNNewYork.com. Ryan’s previous comments indicated that an in-game change like, say, benching Geno Smith for free agent pickup Michael Vick, would take the input of GM John Idzik.
  • Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter) has the goods on the Jets‘ most recent signings. Wide receivers T.J. Graham and Chris Owusu got identical two-year, $1.23MM contracts with no money guaranteed. Fullback John Conner‘s one-year deal is worth $730K and is also non-guaranteed.

Minor Moves: Monday

September 29th, 2014 at 5:39pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll keep tabs on Monday’s minor transactions from around the NFL right here, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day….

  • The Colts placed Mario Harvey on injured reserve, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
  • Defensive end Chase Vaughn has been cut from the Broncos‘ injured reserve list, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • The Panthers have waived running back Tauren Poole, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). Carolina is still short-handed at the position, but is expected to explore adding a more veteran back this week.
  • To make room for Chris Owusu, whose signing is noted below, the Jets are waiving cornerback LeQuan Lewis, per Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter). As Cimini notes, Lewis committed two penalties on special teams in Sunday’s game.
  • The Chargers have swapped one defender for another on their practice squad, re-signing safety Adrian Phillips and cutting defensive lineman Chas Alecxih, the team announced today in a press release.
  • Defensive end Frank Alexander (Panthers), safety Jakar Hamilton (Cowboys), wideout Ace Sanders (Jaguars), and safety Reshad Jones (Dolphins) have all been reinstated from their suspensions, tweets Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange. Their respective teams won’t have to make corresponding moves immediately, since all four clubs will have roster exemptions that last until next Monday (Twitter link).

Earlier updates:

  • The Eagles‘ beat-up offensive line will receive a little help this week, as Lane Johnson has been activated after serving his four-game suspension (Twitter link). To make room on the 53-man roster, the club has waived offensive lineman Kevin Graf.
  • After adding T.J. Graham to the roster earlier today, the Jets will sign another wideout, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, who reports that former Buccaneer Chris Owusu is set to join the club (Twitter links).
  • The Colts have waived wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers on the heels of his arrest for DUI, according to a team release. Head coach Chuck Pagano confirmed to reporters, including Mike Chappell of RTV6 (Twitter link), that Rogers was cut for conduct detrimental to the team. Indianapolis also promoted safety Dewey McDonald from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, and moved Robert Mathis from the reserve/suspended list to the reserve/non-football injury list.
  • With a short week ahead of them and Teddy Bridgewater recovering from an ankle injury, the Vikings have added another quarterback to their practice quad, signing Chandler Harnish and cutting wideout Donte Foster (Twitter link).
  • Wide receiver Tommy Streeter has signed to the Jaguars‘ practice squad, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. Jacksonville currently has a full 10-man unit, so someone will have to be dropped – or promoted – to make room for Streeter.
  • The Redskins have signed outside linebacker Gabe Miller to fill the final opening on their practice squad, per agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link).

AFC Notes: Colts, Graham, Owusu, Guy

September 26th, 2014 at 6:18pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Colts have worked out a number of safeties this week looking to improve their secondary. Among those they have considered are Chris Clemons, DeJon Gomes, M.D. Jennings, Jerron McMillian, Bacarri Rambo, Jamarca Sanford, reports Howard Balzer of LockerDome.com (via Twitter).

  • The Jets have brought in a few receivers as they attempt to add depth to the group. The lackluster group stands out even more when free agent addition Eric Decker is out with injury. The team has worked out former Bill T.J. Graham, reports Balzer (via Twitter).
  • The Jets also had former Charger and 49er Chris Owusu in for a visit, reports Balzer (via Twitter). However, Balzer notes that Owusu never had a tryout with the team.
  • The Ravens have recently added defensive linemen Lawrence Guy to the team, but they first sought a seal of approval from their former linebacker Jarret Johnson, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The Chargers recently waived Guy, and Johnson recommended him to the Ravens, who are dealing with injuries along the defensive line.

Bucs Sign Louis Murphy, Waive Chris Owusu

September 23rd, 2014 at 5:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bucs have re-signed wide receiver Louis Murphy and released wide receiver Chris Owusu, according to Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune (on Twitter). Murphy worked out for Tampa Bay yesterday.

Murphy was a fourth-round pick of the Raiders, where he enjoyed some success. Murphy is known for his blazing speed, but he’s never been able to put it all together at the NFL level. He also spent some time with the Giants and Panthers, before joining the Buccaneers in March. The Bucs cut the former University of Florida star roughly three weeks ago, so we hope he didn’t bother packing up his stuff.

Owusu, 24, has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Buccaneers, seeing action in 17 games, hauling in 16 catches for 158 receiving yards and a touchdown. In the season opener against the Panthers, he caught two passes for 20 yards and a touchdown, the first of his NFL career. He also had a 45 yard kickoff return in Week 2 against the Rams.

In addition to signing Murphy and dropping Owusu, the Bucs announced that they have cut defensive end Adrian Robinson, linebacker Ka’Lial Glaud, and safety Kimario McFadden from their practice squad.