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Derrick Dillon

Browns Activate CB Denzel Ward

August 15th, 2022 at 8:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Denzel Ward is back. The Browns announced that they’ve activated the Pro Bowl cornerback from the physically unable to perform list today. The team also waived wideout Derrick Dillon.

Ward injured his foot on the final day of Browns minicamp, but the cornerback avoided any structural damage. While he was expected to return for the start of training camp, Ward needed an extra week-plus to get right. Despite being sidelined, he was still an active participant in meetings, with Greg Newsome II telling Anthony Poisal of the team’s website that Ward was constantly “coaching” and “leading” his teammates.

The Browns certainly didn’t want to rush Ward back to the field after briefly making him the highest-paid corner in league history. In April, the cornerback inked a five-year extension worth $20.1MM per season, and while his annual compensation now ranks second in the NFL at his position, the deal also included a new watermark in guaranteed money at $44.5MM.

The No. 4 pick in 2018, Ward has lived up to his draft status as one of the most impactful and consistent members of Cleveland’s defense. In 2021, he matched his career high with three interceptions, earning him his second Pro Bowl nod along the way. Ward will slide back atop a depth chart that also features Newsome, Greedy Williams, rookie Martin Emerson Jr., and not-that-one A.J. Green.

After spending his rookie season on the Giants practice squad, Dillon didn’t find a gig for the 2021 campaign. He caught on with the Browns earlier this month.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/22

August 15th, 2022 at 5:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

  • Waived: DE Carson Taylor

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

 Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions 

Green Bay Packers 

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts 

Jacksonville Jaguars 

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins 

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Browns Activate OT Jack Conklin, Shuffle Receivers

August 1st, 2022 at 9:44pm CST by Ely Allen

After missing ten games last season with two separate injuries, Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin has been activated from the physically unable to perform list, according to Nate Ulrich of USA Today. Conklin’s return to the field ensures that Cleveland will field all but one starting offensive linemen from last season. 

Conklin had two separate trips to the injured reserve list last year. He spent three weeks out with an early-November elbow injury and tore his patellar tendon in his first game back from the elbow injury, knocking him out for the remainder of the season. After missing OTAs to rehabilitate on his own, it was expected that Conklin would be limited to start training camp. The Browns confirmed as much by opening camp with Conklin on PUP.

After only eight months of recovery, though, Conklin has been cleared for practice. Cleveland likely won’t take any unnecessary risks in rushing Conklin back to full-go, but to have him back at all this early is an extremely encouraging sign for the Browns’ offensive line. He’ll return to right tackle opposite Jedrick Wills, bookending a line that returns starting guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller. With J.C. Tretter departing in free agency that leaves center as the only position filled by a different player than last year. A backup center for Cleveland over the past two seasons, Nick Harris will get his chance to start at center in camp this summer.

Cleveland also made some moves at wide receiver today, signing Derrick Dillon and waiving Isaiah Weston with an injury designation. Dillon participated in the USFL draft this past year but, after getting selected in the 15th round, never appeared in a game. He also spent time on the Giants’ practice squad after signing there as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Weston was an undrafted free agent from this year’s rookie class that was carted off the practice field with a knee injury on Saturday. Weston was a longshot to make the roster in the first place, and Dillon will replace him as a camp body this summer.

NFL Workouts: 7/25/22

July 25th, 2022 at 9:25pm CST by Ely Allen

As players are moved to the PUP and NFI lists and rosters are starting to take shape for the start of training camps, many players are searching for opportunities to make a team.

Here’s the list of players who have received workouts or taken visits today and this past weekend:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

New England

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

 

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/11/21

August 11th, 2021 at 8:54am CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Bradley Roby
  • Waived: WR Damon Hazelton

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

  • Claimed off waivers from Cardinals: OT Ryan Pope

New York Giants

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Todd Davis Retires From NFL

August 3rd, 2021 at 9:30am CST by Zachary Links

Todd Davis signed with the Giants just a few days ago. But, on Tuesday, he decided to call it a career. The Giants have placed the veteran linebacker on the reserved/retired list, per a club announcement. In a related move, the Giants have placed wide receiver Derrick Dillon on the injured reserve list.

Davis entered the league in 2014 as an unheralded prospect out of Sacramento State. The UDFA carved out a heck of a career for himself, once the Broncos claimed him off waivers from the Saints midway through his rookie year. He went on to play a significant role on the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50 and became a full-time starter the following year in 2016.

“We’re really looking forward to getting him on the field. He just signed with us, so we’re excited about that and he’ll come in and compete with the other linebackers at his position and work through his defensive responsibilities, as well as his role in the kicking game,” head coach Joe Judge said just the other day. “Got to meet with him today, sit down face to face and have a good conversation, liked his energy. I’ve known him as a player in the league for some time but made a good first impression personality-wise and I’m excited to get him on the field.”

From 2016-19, Davis started at least 14 games at inside linebacker in four straight seasons. In his final Denver year, he notched a career-high 134 tackles despite missing two contests. During that stretch, Davis inked a three-year, $15MM deal, but only made it through two years of that pact.

Davis leaves the NFL with 505 tackles, 23 TFL, three sacks, 15 passes defensed, and one interception in 96 career games. We here at PFR wish him the best in retirement.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/1/20

December 1st, 2020 at 7:22pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of the NFL’s latest practice squad moves here:

Cleveland Browns

  • Released: CB Stephen Denmark

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

  • Released: CB Marcus Sayles

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Signed: RB Pete Guerriero

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Football Team

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/20

September 16th, 2020 at 11:35am CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Carolina Panthers

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Washington Football Team

Giants Cut Jon Halapio, Slash Roster To 53

September 5th, 2020 at 3:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants revealed the moves they made to pare their roster down to 53 players. Here are the cuts Big Blue made Saturday:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

The two quarterback cuts will leave Daniel Jones and Colt McCoy as the Giants’ only two quarterbacks to start their post-Eli Manning era, though Rush certainly would profile as a practice squad candidate. He played for new OC Jason Garrett in Dallas for three seasons.
Connelly’s cut is somewhat surprising, given the linebacker’s three starts last season. But an injury cut short his rookie season. The Giants can place 16 players on their practice squad this season. If Connelly clears waivers, it is likely he will be part of that group.
The Giants re-signed Halapio days ago. He has been Big Blue’s starting center in each of their past two Week 1 games, and the former Patriots draft pick started 15 games in 2019. The Giants did not tender Halapio as an RFA this offseason and kept Nick Gates, whom they extended this year, and Spencer Pulley on the roster over him.

Giants Sign 15 Undrafted Players

April 27th, 2020 at 1:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants have agreed to sign 15 undrafted free agents, per a club announcement. They had 80 players on the roster heading into Monday morning, so five players will have to be cut in order to make room for the newcomers. Here’s the full rundown:

Dillon’s deal includes a $40K guarantee, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. That’s an indication that other clubs were keen on the LSU product. Last year, Dillon finished out with 15 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns in Joe Burrow‘s offense.

Cookus, a quarterback out of Northern Arizona, likely would have heard his name called over the weekend if not for a pair of season-ending shoulder injuries in college. In his final season with the Lumberjacks, Cookus threw for nearly 4,100 yards and 31 touchdowns. Still, making the Giants’ 53-man roster cut will be tough as they already have Colt McCoy and Alex Tanney slotted behind starter Daniel Jones.