Here is Wednesday’s latest from the workout circuit:
Cleveland Browns
Miami Dolphins
Oakland Raiders
San Francisco 49ers
We’ve got another busy day of workouts, with many teams across the league hosting players.
Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo Bills
Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions
Indianapolis Colts
Miami Dolphins
New York Giants
New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans
Washington Redskins
De’Vante Harris is returning to the Buccaneers on a one-year deal, the team announced. The cornerback was previously non-tendered by the organization, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The 25-year-old was picked up by Tampa Bay last offseason after being waived by the Saints. He started the season on the injured reserve and was later waived by the Bucs, but the team re-signed him a month later. Harris proceeded to play in 10 games for Tampa Bay, compiling nine tackles and three passes defended. The former Texas A&M product has 31 career games under his belt.
He’ll be rejoining a crowded cornerbacks depth chart in Tampa Bay. If Harris has any hope of playing a significant role, he’ll have to somehow jump at least one of Vernon Hargreaves, Carlton Davis, Ryan Smith and David Rivers III.
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
Arizona Cardinals
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
New York Jets
Oakland Raiders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Redskins
Here are Saturday’s minor moves.
Denver Broncos
Houston Texans
New York Jets
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
Denver Broncos
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New Orleans Saints
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans
De’Vante Harris will be looking for a new home. Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate reports (via Twitter) that the Saints have cut the cornerback.
The 25-year-old initially joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M back in 2016, and he proceeded to spend most of the next two seasons on the active roster. After playing in 10 games as rookie, Harris made 11 appearances (one start) for the Saints last season.
While he finished with career-highs in tackles (18) and passes defended (two), he seemed to lose the faith of the New Orleans coaching staff. He started the season in a primary role, but was demoted to special teams midway through the year. An injury to Marshon Lattimore forced him back into the lineup.
Harris was already going to be hard pressed to make the Saints on a crowded cornerback depth chart. Following his release, the team will be eyeing Ken Crawley, P.J. Williams, Justin Hardee, Arthur Maulet, and Kamrin Moore for backup reps.
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers
The concussion Coby Fleener sustained against the Rams last week induced the Saints to place their starting tight end on IR, Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported this week Fleener’s concussion could linger. He was declared out for this week. To replace Fleener on the 53-man roster, the Saints promted tight end Garrett Griffin from their practice squad, Rapoport tweets.
The Saints also waived cornerback De’Vante Harris, per Herbie Teope of NOLA.com (on Twitter), and promoted cornerback Arthur Maulet from the practice squad.
Fleener has not missed a game since his rookie season, suiting up for all 16 of the Colts’ contests from 2013-15 and each of the Saints’ games last season. He played in 11 New Orleans tilts this year prior to a nasty Blake Countess hit in Los Angeles.
The former second-round pick has become a lower-end target for Drew Brees this season, averaging 26.8 yards per game, but still leads the Saints’ tight ends by a healthy margin. Fleener caught two touchdown passes this season, but it will mark by far his lowest receiving output since his rookie year. He finished with 631 air yards last season. Josh Hill, Michael Hoomanawanui and now Griffin comprise the tight end contingent on New Orleans’ active roster.
Fleener is under contract through the 2020 season.
Harris played in all 11 Saints games this season, starting one. The 2016 UDFA recorded 15 tackles and deflected two passes. Maulet played in one career game, against the Panthers in Week 3. He may well have a chance to play a second against the Panthers on Sunday.