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Deonte Thompson

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/10/15

November 10th, 2015 at 4:16pm CST by Zachary Links

Here are Tuesday’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves from around the NFL:

  • The Saints have signed linebacker James Anderson, as Katherine Terrell of The Times-Picayune tweets. The Saints have been thin at linebacker recently, with injuries to strongside linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha (ankle), weakside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hip/groin), and backup Ramon Humber, so Anderson will provide additional depth for New Orleans. To make room for Anderson, the Saints have cut fellow linebacker Mike Mohamed, as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Vikings announced that they have signed linebacker Jason Trusnik while placing fellow linebacker Audie Cole on IR. Trusnik, a former Division-III standout, was cut by the Panthers before the final trim down to a 53-man roster. He first broke into the league as a UDFA with the Jets in 2007. The Ohio native has played in 109 career games with 24 starts, tallying 146 total tackles, 4 PDs, 4 FRs and 1 FF in his first eight NFL seasons. Cole wasn’t a factor on the Vikings’ defense, but he was playing more than half of the club’s special teams snaps before fracturing his ankle.
  • The Giants announced that they have added defensive tackle Montori Hughes to the active roster while placing defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins on IR. Hankins suffered a torn pectoral muscle over the weekend, ending his 2015 season prematurely. Hughes, who stands at 6’4″ and weighs 350 pounds, played in 16 games for the Colts between 2013 and 2014.
  • The Browns announced that they have activated defensive back Charles Gaines and running back Glenn Winston. Both players were previously sidelined with injuries.
  • The Buccaneers announced that they have signed safety Kimario McFadden, who played with them in the preseason. To make room for McFadden on the 53-man roster, the Buccaneers waived defensive end Lawrence Sidbury.
  • The Chargers announced that they have signed tight end Sean McGrath while waiving guard Craig Watts. McGrath briefly retired following his second season in 2013, a season in which he caught 26 balls for 302 yards and two touchdowns.
  • The Chiefs will promote safety Saalim Hakim from the practice squad, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
  • The Bears will promote wide receiver Deonte Thompson to the 53-man roster from the taxi squad, Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune tweets.

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)

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/11/15

September 11th, 2015 at 6:12pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Titans reached an injury settlement with linebacker Zaviar Gooden and subsequently placed him on waivers, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link).
  • The Bills reached an injury settlement with receiver Deonte Thompson, who was previously on IR, per ESPN’s Mike Rodak (Twitter link).
  • The Texans reached injury settlements with linebackers Lynden Trail and Tony Washington, both of whom were on injured reserve (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
  • The Bengals waived linebacker Jayson DiManche and fullback Mark Weisman from injured reserve, according to ESPN’s Coley Harvey (via Twitter). DiManche got an injury settlement.
  • The Jaguars signed third-year long snapper Carson Tinker to a contract extension that will keep him in Jacksonville for the next four seasons, reports Hays Carlyon of Jacksonville.com.

Bills Release 16 Players, Waive Meeks

September 4th, 2015 at 5:04pm CST by Zachary Links

5:04pm: In addition to their moves earlier today, the Bills have waived safety Jonathan Meeks, ESPN’s Mike Rodak tweets. The Bills attempted to trade Meeks, per Rodak, but were unable to find any takers. Rodak writes that Meeks is a candidate to end up on the Bills’ practice squad if he goes unclaimed on waivers. According to Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez, the Bills tried – and failed – to trade a receiver in order to keep Meeks on their 53-man roster (Twitter link).

1:07pm: The Bills announced that they have cut 16 players, including defensive end IK Enemkpali, as a part of their effort to get down to a 53-man roster. The full list of transactions is below:

Released:

  • OL William Campbell
  • FB John Conner
  • WR Andre Davis
  • DE IK Enemkpali
  • DT Andre Fluellen
  • LB Quentin Groves
  • RB Bronson Hill
  • OL Darryl Johnson
  • OL Alex Kupper
  • DE B.J. Larsen
  • WR Dezmin Lewis
  • CB Merrill Noel
  • WR Tobais Palmer
  • G Cyril Richardson
  • QB Matt Simms (as reported earlier today)
  • RB Cierre Wood

Reserve/NFI List:

  • CB Leodis McKelvin

Waived/Injured:

  • WR Deonte Thompson

Enemkpali is now (and perhaps, forever) best known as the player who punched Jets quarterback Geno Smith, causing him a broken jaw and many weeks on the sidelines. Immediately after the incident, the Jets waived the linebacker/defensive end and old pal Rex Ryan wasted little time in claiming him. Enemkpali only saw the field sparingly in his rookie season, playing 40 defensive snaps and contributing a little on special teams as well.

Groves, 31, appeared in all 16 regular season games for the Titans last season, including three starts. The linebacker, a former second round pick by the Jaguars, has bounced around a bit over the years and despite signing with Buffalo in August, he’ll be looking for a new NFL home once again in 2015.

Fluellen, 30, spent nearly all of his career with the Lions since being drafted by the team in the third round back in 2008. However, he has never played a significant role in Detroit, acting as a part-time contributor over the course of 77 career games (75 with Detroit). In 2014, Fluellen recorded 10 tackles, two sacks, and a fumble recovery in 183 defensive snaps. In June, he hooked on with Buffalo, but his stay in Western New York was brief.

 

AFC Notes: Patriots, Steelers, Pouncey, Vick

August 27th, 2015 at 9:44pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s not immediately clear whether Micahel Williams, acquired by the Patriots in a Tuesday trade, will be playing tight end or tackle, Phil Perry of CSNNE.com. Williams came on to the practice field wearing a No. 74 jersey but later changed into No. 85 and could be seen working out with the tight end group. The 6’6″ athlete first came into the NFL as a tight end but was moved to tackle by the Lions in 2014 after their selection of Eric Ebron. Here’s more from the AFC..

  • Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says center Maurkice Pouncey, who fractured his left fibula Sunday against the Packers, has a chance to return this season, as Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes. However, he did not offer a timetable on when that might be. Pouncey has told teammates he would like to play this season and it sounds like he’s a candidate for the IR-DTR list.
  • Michael Vick‘s one-year contract with the Steelers calls for a base salary of $970K, the veteran’s minimum, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The deal has no injury split and zero guaranteed money.
  • Bills receiver Chris Hogan has had an up-and-down summer and is battling a knee injury, but he doesn’t believe his roster spot is in jeopardy, as he tells Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News. A handful of Bills wideouts, including Deonte Thompson and Andre Davis, have had strong preseasons, which could make for a difficult decision or two in Buffalo.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Hakeem Nicks, James Jones Drawing Interest

August 24th, 2015 at 6:42pm CST by Zachary Links

According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), Hakeem Nicks, James Jones, Deonte Thompson, and Vincent Brown are among the wide receivers drawing interest around the NFL as potential release candidates, in that order. He adds that the Panthers, Ravens, Packers are a few of the teams considering adding wideouts as the season draws near.

The Panthers, of course, are in the market for a reliable target after Kelvin Benjamin suffered a season-ending injury. The Ravens could also use a receiver with promising rookie Breshad Perriman currently sidelined. And the Packers are undoubtedly scouring the market for options now that Jordy Nelson is confirmed to be done for the 2015 season. While sources tell Cole that Nicks will generally get the most attention of this quartet, the Packers are more interested in Jones that the rest of the bunch, due in part to their familiarity with him.

Nicks, 27, first reached unrestricted free agency in March 2014, and signed a modest one-year contract with the Colts after spending the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Giants. While fellow 2009 first-round wideout Jeremy Maclin parlayed a one-year, prove-it deal in 2014 into a huge, long-term contract, Nicks was unable to do the same in Indianapolis. Currently, Nicks is on a one-year deal with the Titans that holds a modest guarantee and he could be days away from hitting the open market again.

Jones had 73 catches for 666 yards and six touchdowns last season with the Raiders in 2014. This offseason, the veteran hooked on with the Giants and it has been widely speculated that he could be released before the final rosters are set. His best individual output came in 2013, when he hauled in 64 passes for 784 yards and a career-best 14 TDs for the Packers.

 

Bills Cut Mike Williams, Sign Deonte Thompson

December 9th, 2014 at 9:56pm CST by Luke Adams

TUESDAY, 9:56pm: Williams has cleared waivers and reverted to the Bills’ injured reserve list, writes Rodak, who estimates that the club reach a settlement with the receiver.

MONDAY, 3:17pm: Williams wants to play now and is hoping to catch on with a contender, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Wawrow’s previously-linked report indicates that the Bills reached a settlement with Williams, so it sounds as if he’ll hit the open market rather than landing on the team’s injured reserve list.

3:04pm: A little more than eight months after they acquired him from the Buccaneers in exchange for a sixth-round pick, the Bills are parting ways with veteran wideout Mike Williams, according to reports from John Wawrow of The Associated Press and Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter links).

Williams, 27, was expected to contribute this season to a revamped Bills receiving corps that lost Steve Johnson, but added No. 4 overall pick Sammy Watkins. However, Williams didn’t see much action during his stint in Buffalo, partly due to injuries, and compiled just 142 yards and one touchdowns on eight receptions in 2014. There were reports earlier in the season that Williams – or his agent – had requested a trade, but the former Buccaneer denied asking to be moved.

As Rodak indicates, Buffalo is waiving Williams with the injured designation, which means he should revert to the injured reserve list, assuming he goes unclaimed tomorrow on waivers. The team’s official press release on the move confirms as much, noting that Williams has been put on the waived/injured list.

To replace Williams on the roster, the Bills have signed wide receiver Deonte Thompson from off the Ravens’ practice squad, as first reported by Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

AFC North Notes: Rice, Browns, Thompson

October 2nd, 2014 at 7:02pm CST by Zachary Links

When Terrell Suggs lifted himself off of Cam Newton on the final play of the Panthers’ first drive last Sunday, he thought sack-less streak was over. However, the Ravens linebacker learned later that he only got credited for a half sack, sharing it with fellow outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil. “I’m definitely fighting the NFL on that,” Suggs said laughing, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. “I’m definitely sending [the tape] in.” More from the AFC North..

  • The NFLPA announced that former United States District Judge Barbara S. Jones has been appointed by commissioner Roger Goodell to hear and decide the appeal filed on behalf of Ravens running back Ray Rice. “We are grateful to Judge Jones for taking on this role,” said commissioner Goodell. “She will have our full cooperation as she hears and decides this appeal.”
  • It’s too early to say that Browns first-year defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil is “under fire,” but his side of the ball has underperformed through three games this season, writes Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. Reporters asked O’Neil about a number of the Browns’ issues today, from Joe Haden‘s early struggles to whether Barkevious Mingo has fallen short of his expectations as a pass rusher.
  • Wideout Deonte Thompson is currently earning a weekly salary of $17K on the Ravens‘ practice squad, well above the standard rate of $6.3K, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. As Brian McIntyre notes (Twitter links), several other practice squad players are also earning above the minimum rate, including Browns guard Ryan Seymour ($10K), Vikings fullback Zach Line ($10K), Seahawks receiver Phil Bates ($7.3K), and 49ers cornerback Leon McFadden ($6.5K).

Minor Moves: Thursday

September 25th, 2014 at 5:06pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll keep tabs on Thursday’s practice squad signings as cuts, as well as minor 53-man roster transactions, in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day….

  • Can the Ravens just make up their minds already? A source tells Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun that the club has re-signed wide receiver Deonte Thompson to the practice squad. Thompson, who was released twice by Baltimore in five days, will earn more than the usual $6,300 per week that taxi squad players make. The speedy receiver will bump someone from the practice squad but it’s not yet known who will be dropped to make room.

Earlier updates:

  • The only team in the NFL that came into today with a spot available on its 53-man roster has filled that opening, as the Redskins announced they’ve promoted defensive tackle Robert Thomas from their practice squad (Twitter link). An undrafted free agent out of Arkansas, Thomas had been on Washington’s taxi squad since the start of the season.
  • Running back Lache Seastrunk has been removed from the Panthers‘ practice squad, with Carolina signing running back Tauren Poole to take his place, according to the club (Twitter link).
  • The Rams have made a small adjustment to their practice squad as well, re-adding wideout Justin Veltung to replace tight end Brad Smelley, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
  • After spending the season to date on the reserve/non-football illness list, defensive end Mike Catapano has been moved to the Chiefs‘ injured reserve list, as Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes. It’s not clear what sort of ailment is plaguing Catapano, but the new designation indicates he won’t play for Kansas City this season.

Ravens Sign Lawrence Guy

September 24th, 2014 at 4:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens have claimed Chargers defensive end Lawrence Guy off waivers, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. To make room, Baltimore has released Deonte Thompson for the second time in five days.

The signing could be a sign that the Ravens don’t feel great about the knee injuries plaguing Chris Canty and Timmy Jernigan. Canty didn’t practice Wednesday and Jernigans’ meniscus issue kept him from playing against the Browns over the weekend. Guy, 24, has played in three games this season with no statistics registered. In 10 games last season, the 6’4″, 318-pounder had 16 tackles. A former Arizona State player and Las Vegas native who has also played for the Colts and Packers, Guy has 38 career tackles, one sack, and four pass deflections.

Thompson was inactive for the first two games, then released last prior to the Ravens’ 23-21 win over the Browns. Thompson was re-signed yesterday when the Ravens cut running back Fitzgerald Toussaint but his stay was short-lived.

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