DeShawn Williams - Pro Football Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/4/25

January 4th, 2025 at 9:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The last minor moves and standard gameday elevations of the 2024 NFL regular season:

Arizona Cardinals

Signed to active roster: S Andre Chachere
Elevated: RB Tony Jones Jr., T Luke Tenuta
Placed on IR: T Jackson Barton

Atlanta Falcons

Elevated: CB Lamar Jackson

Buffalo Bills

Elevated: OL Will Clapp, DE Casey Toohill

Carolina Panthers

Activated from IR: RB Miles Sanders (story)
Placed on IR: LB Amaré Barno
Signed to active roster: DE DeShawn Williams
Elevated: OLB Thomas Incoom, OLB Kenny Dyson

Cincinnati Bengals

Elevated: DT Domenique Davis, WR Kendric Pryor

Dallas Cowboys

Signed to active roster: QB Will Grier
Elevated: CB Troy Pride
Placed on IR: CB Kemon Hall

Denver Broncos

Elevated: DE Matt Henningsen

Detroit Lions

Signed to active roster: DB Morice Norris
Elevated: DL Chris Smith, CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver

Houston Texans

Signed to active roster: CB D’Angelo Ross
Elevated: DE Solomon Byrd, S Russ Yeast
Placed on IR: LB Jamal Hill

Jacksonville Jaguars

Elevated: DE Joe Gaziano

Kansas City Chiefs

Elevated: LB Blake Lynch, QB Chris Oladokun

Las Vegas Raiders

Elevated: TE John Samuel Shenker

Los Angeles Chargers

Activated from IR: S Alohi Gilman (story)
Elevated: WR Dez Fitzpatrick, S Eddie Jackson

Los Angeles Rams

Elevated: T AJ Arcuri, OLB Keir Thomas

Miami Dolphins

Elevated: T Ryan Hayes, QB Skylar Thompson

Minnesota Vikings

Elevated: LB Calvin Munson, OLB Gabriel Murphy

New England Patriots

Signed to active roster: CB Miles Battle, DE Truman Jones, LB Monty Rice, TE Jack Westover
Elevated: WR Alex Erickson, TE Mitchell Wilcox
Placed on IR: C Ben Brown, S Jabrill Peppers, WR Ja’Lynn Polk

New Orleans Saints

Elevated: S Millard Bradford, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

New York Giants

Signed to active roster: RB Dante Miller
Elevated: OLB Boogie Basham, T Tyre Phillips

New York Jets

Placed on IR: CB Sauce Gardner
Signed to active roster: DL Bruce Hector
Elevated: CB Tre Swilling, OL Zack Bailey

San Francisco 49ers

Signed to active roster: DE Alex Barrett, LB DaShaun White
Elevations: G Drake Nugent, WR Trent Taylor
Placed on IR: G Spencer Burford, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

Seattle Seahawks

Signed to active roster: CB Artie Burns, NT Brandon Pili
Elevated: DT Quinton Bohanna, TE Tyler Mabry

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, LB Deion Jones

Tennessee Titans

Signed to active roster: DE Khalid Duke, WR Tay Martin
Elevated: S Gervarrius Owens, K Matthew Wright
Placed on IR: LB Otis Reese

Ross’ new deal to the Texans’ 53-man roster is good through the 2025 season, as well. Ditto for Jones, signed to the active roster in New England today.

Sanders returned to practice this week, and his activation will allow him to close out his second Panthers season on the field rather than on the mend. His Carolina tenure has fallen well short of expectations and a release in the near future could be in the cards. Given the team’s backfield injuries, though, Sanders could handle a notable workload tomorrow while potentially auditioning for free agent suitors.

Gilman’s return will be welcomed by the Chargers’ defense. The 27-year-old has remained a full-time starter this season, his second straight handling first-team duties. Los Angeles is assured of a wild-card spot, but moving up to the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture could be possible on Sunday. In any case, Gilman’s presence will be key for a Bolts defense which leads the league in points allowed per game (17.6).

Gardner’s campaign will come to an end after 15 games played. He fell short of a Pro Bowl nod for this first time in his young career, but the fourth pick of the 2022 draft remained a critical member of the team’s secondary when healthy. Gardner is eligible for an extension this offseason, and his financial future (which will include a fifth-year option decision in the spring) will be a key point of focus once New York’s head coach/general manager tandem is in place.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/28/24

December 28th, 2024 at 8:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves, including gameday elevations for Week 17:

Arizona Cardinals

Elevated: RB Michael Carter, S Andre Chachere

Atlanta Falcons

Placed on IR: S Antonio Hamilton
Signed to active roster: LB Josh Woods
Elevated: CB Lamar Jackson, OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

Buffalo Bills

Elevated: S Lewis Cine, WR Tyrell Shavers

Carolina Panthers

Placed on IR: DB Chau Smith-Wade
Signed to active roster: RB Mike Boone, QB Jack Plummer
Elevated: DT DeShawn Williams

Dallas Cowboys

Placed on IR: WR CeeDee Lamb (story), CB Amani Oruwariye
Activated from IR: T Asim Richards
Signed to active roster: LB Darius Harris
Elevated: CB Troy Pride Jr., OL Dakoda Shepley

Green Bay Packers

Elevated: S Omar Brown

New Orleans Saints

Placed on IR: C Erik McCoy, G Lucas Patrick
Signed to active roster: OL Kyle Hergel, LB Isaiah Stalbird
Elevated: T Austin Deculus, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

New York Giants

Placed on IR: S Raheem Layne (story)
Activated from IR: OL Austin Schlottmann, DL Armon Watts
Elevated: OLB Carlos Basham

New York Jets

Activated from IR: K Greg Zuerlein

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Activated from IR: WR Kameron Johnson, S Jordan Whitehead
Signed to active roster: P Jack Browning
Elevated: LB Deion Jones, QB Michael Pratt
Waived: LB Vi Jones

Tennessee Titans

Signed to active roster: G Arlington Hambright, LB Raekwon McMillan, K Matthew Wright
Elevated: T Chandler Brewer, DB Gervarrius Owens
Released: DB Tre Avery, DB Gabe Jeudy-Lally

It was already known Lamb would be out for the remainder of the year, but the same will now be true of Oruwariye. The latter made seven appearances in 2024, his debut Cowboys season. That included four starts and a defensive snap share of 62%, making him a notable contributor on a Dallas defense which has dealt with a number of injuries. Oruwariye, 28, is a pending free agent.

McCoy and Patrick suffered injuries during the Saints’ Week 16 loss, and today’s move confirms they will both miss the remainder of the season. New Orleans’ offensive line has been dealt a number of blows in 2024, and that will continue through the final two games of the season. McCoy appeared in just seven games this year, but plenty of term remains on his pact. Patrick, by contrast, is set to hit the open market this spring.

Whitehead returned to practice earlier this week, so it comes as no surprise he will be available to the Buccaneers tomorrow. He will be expected to reprise his role as a defensive starter as Tampa Bay looks to seal the NFC South over the final two games of the campaign. Bringing back Whitehead and Johnson will leave the team with two IR activations.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/11/24

December 11th, 2024 at 7:31pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Signed: P Michael Palardy

Carolina Panthers

Signed: DT DeShawn Williams

Chicago Bears

Signed: RB Royce Freeman

Cleveland Browns

Signed: TE Tre’ McKitty

Detroit Lions

Signed: S Erick Hallett

Jacksonville Jaguars

Signed: C Dieter Eiselen

New York Giants

Signed: T Jalen McKenzie

Seattle Seahawks

Signed: RB Brittain Brown

Arizona is bringing in the left-footed punter as regular punter Blake Gillikin is dealing with an ankle injury on his kicking foot. If Gillikin can’t go on Sunday, Palardy will see his first game action since he finished the back half of the 2022 season in New England.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/10/24

December 10th, 2024 at 8:07pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Carolina Panthers

Placed on injured reserve: RB Jonathon Brooks
Waived: DL DeShawn Williams
Signed to active roster from practice squad: DT Sam Roberts

New York Giants

Placed on injured reserve: CB Tre Hawkins
Signed to active roster from practice squad: CB Greg Stroman

Tennessee Titans

Waived with injury designation: OT Leroy Watson

The Panthers officially placed Brooks on injured reserve after he re-tore his right ACL on Sunday against the Eagles. The second-round pick spent most of his rookie season on the Physically Unable to Perform list after his initial ACL tear last November. He only managed 12 touches for 45 yards in his first three NFL appearances before re-injuring his knee, which will require another lengthy rehab process and puts his availability for the start of the 2025 season in doubt.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/24

October 8th, 2024 at 7:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tuesday’s minor moves around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

Signed to active roster: OL Charlie Heck
Placed on IR: G Will Hernandez (story)

Carolina Panthers

Signed (off Giants’ practice squad): OL Cade Mays
Promoted: OLB Thomas Incoom, DE DeShawn Williams

Cincinnati Bengals

Placed on IR: CB Dax Hill (story), OL Jaxson Kirkland

Cleveland Browns

Waived: G Javion Cohen, DT Sam Kamara, TE Blake Whiteheart

Dallas Cowboys

Signed to active roster: DE Carl Lawson

Denver Broncos

Signed to active roster: LB Levelle Bailey

Detroit Lions

Designated for return from reserve/PUP list: OL Christian Mahogany

Houston Texans

Signed (off Ravens’ practice squad): CB Ka’dar Hollman
Placed on IR: RB British Brooks

Indianapolis Colts

Signed to active roster: CB David Long

Minnesota Vikings

Signed to active roster: RB Myles Gaskin
Released: TE Robert Tonyan

New England Patriots

Released: DE Jamree Kromah

Tennessee Titans

Waived: OL John Ojukwu

Kirkland is out for the season due to a biceps tear, head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday. That injury resulted in the addition of Andrew Stueber off Atlanta’s practice squad, a move which became official today. Kirkland, a former UDFA, made a pair of appearances this season, seeing sparse usage on offense and special teams.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/24

September 28th, 2024 at 7:27pm CST by Ely Allen

Minor transactions and practice squad callups for the Week 4 weekend:

Arizona Cardinals

Elevated: DT Angelo Blackson, T Charlie Heck

Atlanta Falcons

Elevated: G Matt Hennessy

Baltimore Ravens

Elevated: RB Chris Collier
Placed on IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis

Carolina Panthers

Elevated: OLB Thomas Incoom, DE DeShawn Williams

Chicago Bears

Elevated: DT Byron Cowart, S Tarvarius Moore
Placed on IR: TE Stephen Carlson (story)

Cleveland Browns

Elevated: CB Tony Brown, TE Geoff Swaim

Denver Broncos

Elevated: LB Levelle Bailey, S Tanner McCalister

Green Bay Packers

Elevated: CB Kamal Hadden, CB Robert Rochell

Houston Texans

Elevated: RB J.J. Taylor

Indianapolis Colts

Elevated: DT Adam Gotsis, CB David Long

Jacksonville Jaguars

Signed to active roster: TE Josiah Deguara
Elevated: CB Christian Braswell, LB Tanner Muse

Las Vegas Raiders

Signed to active roster: TE John Samuel Shenker
Elevated: WR Alex Bachman, OLB K’Lavon Chaisson
Waived: WR Ramel Keyton

Los Angeles Chargers

Elevated: LB Blake Lynch, C Sam Mustipher

Los Angeles Rams

Elevated: WR Xavier Smith, CB Ahkello Witherspoon

Minnesota Vikings

Elevated: OLB Bo Richter, TE Robert Tonyan

New England Patriots

Signed to active roster: CB Isaiah Bolden
Elevated: DT Trysten Hill, TE Mitchell Wilcox
Placed on IR: CB Alex Austin

New Orleans Saints

Elevated: G Kyle Hergel

New York Jets

Elevated: DT Bruce Hector, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball

Philadelphia Eagles

Elevated: WR Parris Campbell, WR John Ross

Pittsburgh Steelers

Elevated: CB Thomas Graham Jr., RB Aaron Shampklin

San Francisco 49ers

Signed to active roster: DE Sam Okuayinonu
Elevated: DT Evan Anderson, S Jaylen Mahoney
Placed on IR: DT Javon Hargrave (story), LB Curtis Robinson (story)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Elevated: P Trenton Gill, WR Sterling Shepard

Washington Commanders

Elevated: DE Andre Jones Jr., RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/21/24

September 21st, 2024 at 5:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor NFL transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Elevated: T Jackson Barton, T Charlie Heck

Baltimore Ravens

Elevated: RB Chris Collier, CB Ka’dar Hollman

Carolina Panthers

Elevated: DE DeShawn Williams

Chicago Bears

Elevated: DE Byron Cowart, WR Collin Johnson
Placed on IR: RB Travis Homer

Cleveland Browns

Signed to active roster: RB Gary Brightwell, TE Blake Whiteheart
Elevated: CB Tony Brown, TE Geoff Swaim

Dallas Cowboys

Elevated: DE Carl Lawson, LB Nick Vigil

Detroit Lions

Elevated: WR Tim Patrick, WR Allen Robinson

Green Bay Packers

Elevated: QB Sean Clifford, CB Robert Rochell

Houston Texans

Elevated: RB J.J. Taylor, LB Zeke Turner

Las Vegas Raiders

Elevated: CB Sam Webb

Los Angeles Chargers

Elevated: LB Shaquille Quarterman

Los Angeles Rams

Elevated: TE Nikola Kalinic, WR Xavier Smith

Miami Dolphins

Signed to active roster: QB Tim Boyle
Elevated: WR Dee Eskridge, WR Erik Ezukanma
Placed on IR: WR Grant DuBose

Minnesota Vikings

Elevated: OLB Bo Richter, TE Robert Tonyan

New Orleans Saints

Elevated: LB Isaiah Stalbird

New York Giants

Elevated: CB Art Green, LB Ty Summers

Philadelphia Eagles

Elevated: WR Parris Campbell, TE Jack Stoll

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Elevated: DL Mike Greene, WR Sterling Shepard

Tennessee Titans

Elevated: LB Luke Gifford, RB Jabari Small

Players like Hollman, Vigil, Webb, and Quarterman will now be getting called up for the third time this season. The NFL rules limit a practice squad player to three standard gameday elevations per contract. If their teams want to get them into more games in the future, the normal route is for them to be signed to the active roster after this weekend then released/waived and signed to new practice squad deals, starting their three-game count over.

Shy Tuttle‘s foot injury will keep him off the field for Week 3, as the Panthers announced that the defensive tackle has been downgraded from doubtful to out. The Panthers called up Williams to temporarily take the open roster spot. The defensive end started 10 of his 16 appearances for the Panthers last season, and he landed back on Carolina’s practice squad last month after spending the preseason with the Bills.

The Browns announced a handful of moves ahead of their game with the Giants tomorrow. Notably, the team didn’t promote any offensive tackles, which provided some optimism surrounding the availability of their injured tackles. While Jedrick Wills Jr. is expected to play (per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal), Jack Conklin will not (per Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN Cleveland). Conklin hasn’t played since Week 1 of the 2023 season while recovering from a torn ACL and MCL. He practiced this week and was initially listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game, but it sounds like a new hamstring injury is the culprit for his Week 3 absence.

With both Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce set to miss Sunday’s trip to Minnesota, the Texans are bringing up Taylor off the practice squad. Taylor will back up Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale against the Vikings this weekend.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/10/24

September 10th, 2024 at 6:49pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s practice squad transactions from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Signed: DT Angelo Blackson
Released: DT Tyler Manoa

Carolina Panthers

Signed: CB Azizi Hearn, DE DeShawn Williams

Cleveland Browns

Signed: TE Geoff Swaim
Released: WR Lideatrick Griffin, CB Justin Hardee

Green Bay Packers

Signed: TE Johnny Lumpkin, WR T.J. Luther
Released: RB La’Mical Perine, WR Jalen Wayne

Houston Texans

Signed: CB Desmond King, CB Troy Pride Jr.
Released: S Mark Perry

Indianapolis Colts

Signed: CB Kelvin Joseph

Jacksonville Jaguars

Signed: CB Zech McPhearson

Minnesota Vikings

Signed: WR Jeshaun Jones
Released: CB Jaylin Williams

New England Patriots

Signed: DT Jaquelin Roy
Released: G Jerome Carvin

New York Giants

Signed: G Cade Mays
Released: T Marcellus Johnson

Philadelphia Eagles

Signed: WR Danny Gray, CB AJ Woods
Released: WR Griffin Hebert, LB Brandon Smith

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed: WR Shaquan Davis
Released: LB Marcus Haynes

San Francisco 49ers

Released: DE Jonathan Garvin

Seattle Seahawks

Signed: WR Ty Scott
Released: LB Michael Barrett

Tennessee Titans

Signed: WR Tay Martin

Washington Commanders

Signed: T Anim Dankwah

Bills Pare Roster To 53; LB Matt Milano Receives IR-Return Designation

August 27th, 2024 at 5:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is how the Bills dropped their roster to the 53-man limit:

Released:

DT Eli Ankou
WR Deon Cain
OL Will Clapp
OL La’el Collins
WR KJ Hamler
S Kareem Jackson
WR Andy Isabella
DT DeShawn Williams

Waived:

OL Keaton Bills
OL Gunner Britton
DE Kameron Cline
CB Te’Cory Couch
TE Zach Davidson
DT Branson Deen
QB Ben DiNucci
OL Mike Edwards
RB Frank Gore Jr.
OL Richard Gouraige
CB Daequan Hardy
WR Xavier Johnson
DE Kingsley Jonathan
CB Keni-H Lovely
TE Tre’ McKitty
WR Tyrell Shavers
WR Justin Shorter
DT Gable Steveson
S Kendall Williamson

Placed on IR:

T Travis Clayton

Placed on IR (return designation)

RB Darrynton Evans
LB Matt Milano

Milano suffered a biceps tear and will aim to return late in the season, though the All-Pro linebacker’s injury trouble is obviously a big-picture concern at this point. The Bills are also using one of their eight IR activations, mandated for teams who take advantage of the new rule to designate IR-return players today, on a backup running back. That is a rather interesting decision, as Evans has totaled just 62 carries since being drafted in the 2020 third round.

Residing on the Bills’ roster bubble going into camp, Damar Hamlin made the team. Ditto Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who joined Hamlin on the bubble. The bubble burst — for the time being, at least — on Collins and Clapp, who were vying for swing spots. Collins had been shuttled to guard — where he had not played since 2016 — in recent practices. Jackson joined the Bills after they ran into some injury trouble at safety early in camp.

Steveson, who has an Olympic wrestling gold medal, could be a practice squad candidate. The Eagles carried Olympian hurdler Devon Allen on their P-squad for two years, though the latter has far more football seasoning compared to Steveson. Attempting to follow in his father’s footsteps by securing a Bills gig, Gore is a P-squad candidate, per the Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran. He will need to clear waivers first.

Bills Sign DT DeShawn Williams

March 28th, 2024 at 12:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

Continuing to bring in depth along the defensive front, the Bills have added DeShawn Williams. The 31-year-old signed a one-year deal on Thursday, per a team announcement.

Williams spent his rookie season in Cincinnati in 2016, but his next regular season action did not come until 2020 with the Broncos. The former UDFA remained in Denver for three years, starting 34 of his 46 games with the team. His final Broncos campaign produced a career-high 4.5 sacks, and it resulted in a one-year Panthers contract.

In Carolina, Williams started 10 of 16 games and logged a healthy 44% snap share while playing alongside Derrick Brown. The Clemson product recorded 33 tackles and one sack, earning a PFF grade of 50 along the way. While his sack total dropped, his 18 QB pressures (per PFF) marked a personal high and fell in line with those of his previous campaigns. Williams will look to replicate that rotational production in Buffalo.

The Bills entered free agency with a number of question marks along the defensive interior. DaQuan Jones was quickly retained on a two-year deal, however, and Buffalo has since added Austin Johnson. Williams will look to carve out a role alongside that pair and Ed Oliver, who is on the books through 2027 via the lucrative extension he inked last offseason.

Buffalo entered Thursday with just under $9MM in cap space, a figure which will be lowered to an extent with the Johnson and Williams deals now official. Those two will give the Bills experienced depth along the D-line, though, as the team transitions to new contributors in a number of areas on that side of the ball.