Here are the latest practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Jakeem Grant
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: OT Braeden Daniels
The Falcons made a slew of roster moves today in anticipation for their Week 11 matchup in Denver, per Falcons digital team reporter Terrin Waack, including several updates to their injured reserve. Atlanta activated center Drew Dalman and outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter from IR and placed defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham and defensive end James Smith-Williams on IR. 
Dalman has missed seven games since leaving the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Chiefs early with a high ankle sprain. Dalman, 25, had been a key contributor up front since taking on a first-team role; he graded out as Pro Football Focus’s third-best center last season. He sat in the top five for his performance during the early portion of the 2024 campaign, as well. Even more disappointing, Dalman is in a contract year, and missing half of the season after getting recognized as one of the league’s top centers could be detrimental to the money he might make.
With his activation today, he’ll retake his starting center gig from Ryan Neuzil. His return also eliminated the necessity to roster backup center Matt Hennessy. Hennessy was waived from the active roster on Thursday. He will be returning to Atlanta via the practice squad after going unclaimed on the waiver wire. In order to make room for Hennessy on the practice squad, the Falcons released veteran return specialist Jakeem Grant, who was signed to the practice squad earlier this week.
Carter will finally be making a comeback from IR this week, as well. Carter’s IR-stint was a bit of a surprise after the 28-year-old was placed on the NFL’s concussion protocol. He had originally been placed on the team’s injury report under the designation of “illness” after not practicing, but Atlanta updated the designation to “concussion” by the end of that same day.
It’s still unclear why Carter’s concussion required a four-game absence when we’ve seen several players pass through the protocol within a week, but regardless, the Falcons will be happy to return a pass rushing weapon to what has been a virtually nonexistent pass rushing attack. Atlanta ranks dead-last in the league in sacks (9), despite sitting at 15th in the NFL in quarterback hurries and 14th in quarterback knockdowns. Currently, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett leads the team with 2.5 sacks, edge rusher Matt Judon is second with 1.5, and five other players add a sack each to the team’s total.
Luckily, Graham’s placement on IR has nothing to do with his MCL tear from the 2022 season. Far-removed from the knee injury, Graham is now dealing with an injured pectoral muscle suffered in last Sunday’s loss to the Saints. Smith-Williams also went down in last week’s game with an injury but returned later in the game. The following day, though, head coach Raheem Morris said the injury was “not great,” revealing that Smith-Williams was dealing with a tibia injury.
In addition to the IR transactions above, cornerback Natrone Brooks will fill an empty spot on the 53-man active roster, getting signed from the practice squad. Brooks had reached his three-game elevation limit from the practice squad, so in order to play in any more games, he needed to be signed to the active roster. Joining Brooks on the active roster from the practice squad will be safety Dane Cruikshank and outside linebacker Khalid Kareem, who will serve as the team’s standard gameday elevations for Week 11.
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Jakeem Grant
- Released: LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Released: LB Cam Johnson
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: QB Will Grier
- Released: S Emany Johnson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Maurice Alexander, DE Isaiah Thomas
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Cameron Erving, CB D’Angelo Ross
- Released: CB Desmond King, OT David Sharpe
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT Mason Brooks
- Released: DE Derek Rivers
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Jerome Carvin, OL Dieter Eiselen
- Released: LS Peter Bowden, QB John Rhys Plumlee
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Joshua Miles
- Released: P Matt Haack
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Patrick Taylor
- Released: RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Chandler Brewer
The Falcons have added a notable name to their special teams corps in Jakeem Grant. The long-time Dolphins returner has collected six ST touchdowns in his career (four via punts, two via kickoffs), and he’s even hauled in 100 catches. However, the veteran hasn’t seen the field since the 2021 campaign while spending the past few years on Cleveland’s practice squad.
With Dak Prescott done for the season, the Cowboys have added some extra QB depth. In comes old friend Will Grier, who spent the 2021 and 2022 campaigns in Dallas. The former third-round pick has since bounced around the NFL, including stops with the Bengals, Patriots, and Chargers in just 2023. Grier still only has two career appearances on his resume, both coming with the Panthers in 2019.
The Texans have added some experienced OL depth in Cameron Erving. The veteran is coming off a 2023 campaign where he started two of his three appearances for the Saints, and he barely played in 11 appearances with the Panthers in 2022. Still, the 32-year-old brings 98 games (58 starts) of experience to Houston, a factor that could be valuable down the stretch. To make room on the practice squad, the Texans moved on from cornerback Desmond King. The veteran has only seen time in one game for Houston this season, although he’s not far removed from a 2022 campaign where he started 13 games for the Texans.
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Jakeem Grant
Buffalo Bills
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Bryan Thompson
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from active/PUP list: OL Yosh Nijman
- Signed: LB Aaron Beasley
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Peter LeBlanc, RB Jacob Saylors
- Waived/injured: TE Giovanni Ricci
- Reverted to IR: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle
Dallas Cowboys
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DE Shaka Toney
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DL Keonte Schad
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reverted to IR: WR Jaaron Hayek
Las Vegas Raiders
- Reverted to IR: WR Jeff Foreman
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Isaac Rex
- Waived: DL Micheal Mason
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: RB SaRodorick Thompson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Mohamed Ibrahim, OL Chuck Filiaga
- Reverted to IR: OL Jeremy Flax, S Najee Thompson
New Orleans Saints
- Reverted to IR: C Sincere Haynesworth
Washington Commanders
- Signed: S Sheldrick Redwine.
Nijman underwent surgery to address a leg injury, and despite Dave Canales indicating the free agency pickup was a ways away from returning, he is back at practice barely a week later. It remains to be seen if Nijman will be able to suit up in Week 1, but he has some time here. The Panthers signed the ex-Packer blocker to be their swing tackle.
Grant will be able to suit up later this season, depending on the terms of the injury settlement. This transaction moves Grant off the Falcons’ roster. The former All-Pro return man has not played since the 2021 season, stacking the odds against him. He is going into what would be an age-32 season.
After signing with the Falcons on Saturday, Jakeem Grant‘s season has already come to an end. The team announced that the return specialist was placed on injured reserve today.
[RELATED: Falcons Sign Return Specialist Jakeem Grant]
Grant made it through only one full practice before going down. Per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the special teamer suffered a hamstring injury on Wednesday that forced him off the practice field.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a shocking development for Grant, who has suffered through a list of injuries in recent years. After signing with the Browns ahead of the 2022 campaign, Grant suffered a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season before it began. The veteran suffered another season-ending injury during the 2023 preseason, this time thanks to a ruptured patellar tendon.
Prior to his run of injuries, the former sixth-round pick was one of the most dynamic returners in the NFL. Grant collected six return touchdowns through his six healthy seasons, including a pair of kickoffs of more than 100 yards. Grant also showed some flashes on offense, including a 2020 campaign with the Dolphins where he hauled in 36 catches for 373 yards.
Considering his special teams prowess, teams were willing to look past his recent injury woes. Grant was a popular name on the workout circuit this offseason, getting looks from the Eagles, Saints, and Jets. Grant could potentially play again this season if he’s able to work out his release with the Falcons.
In Atlanta, Grant was likely going to be competing with the likes of Ray-Ray McCloud and Avery Williams for return snaps. He also could have seen a role on offense, especially following Rondale Moore‘s season-ending injury.
The Falcons receiving corps suffered a blow when it was announced that Rondale Moore would miss the 2024 NFL season with a knee injury. While not a one-for-one replacement, Atlanta has addressed the position group, signing veteran wide receiver and return specialist Jakeem Grant to a one-year contract, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Coming to the NFL as a sixth-round pick out of Texas Tech, it became immediately clear that Grant’s value came on special teams. As a rookie with the Dolphins, Grant only received one target and one carry, finishing with one yard from scrimmage. Instead, his impact came as a returner, as he scored his first career touchdown on a 74-yard punt return.
In the following years, Miami noticed the danger his speed presented and attempted to get him more involved on offense. He was able to contribute a bit here and there but never totaled more than 373 yards or two touchdowns in a season over six years with the Dolphins. In that same time, though, Grant continued to excel on special teams, returning three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Grant’s electricity has been evident throughout his career. He has always been a danger to break off a long return at any moment, twice returning kickoffs longer than 100 yards and returning four punts over 70 yards, including one 97-yarder. We last saw him in Chicago, where he played 11 games after being traded from Miami. That short sample of time was when Grant delivered his 97-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Following the expiration of his contract with the Bears, Grant signed a three-year deal taking him to Cleveland. Unfortunately, he never got to play for the Browns, suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the 2022 preseason. A year later, finally ready to make his Browns debut, Grant was carted off the field in the team’s final preseason game with a ruptured patellar tendon, once again getting placed on injured reserve before the season began.
Since departing from Cleveland, Grant has shown a continued interest in remaining on the field. In recent months, he has shopped his talents out to the Eagles, Saints, and Jets.
In Atlanta, the return man job won’t be simply handed to Grant. He will have competition for both return spots in Ray-Ray McCloud and Avery Williams. Williams served as the primary kick- and punt-return since 2021 before missing the 2023 season after undergoing ACL surgery. McCloud has an extensive history as a return man in his history, as well.
While both players have the requisite experience, neither player holds quite the same electricity as neither have scored return touchdowns in their NFL careers. This sets up an intriguing battle to come. All three players hold plenty of promise as return men, with varying levels of value on offense, as well. None of the three are expected to be key contributors for new quarterback Kirk Cousins, but if any prove that they can do more than just return, it could solidify them a roster spot in 2024.
Jakeem Grant has spent time with a few different teams this offseason, but he has been unable to land a deal so far. The veteran receiver/return specialist will now join the Jets this week in his latest bid to find a roster spot.
Grant will take part in New York’s upcoming minicamp on a tryout, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 31-year-old has been busy this spring in his bid to make an NFL return. Grant took part in the Eagles’ rookie minicamp, later doing the same with the Saints. He has not played a game since 2021.
The former sixth-rounder earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020, his final full campaign in Miami. That was followed up by a season split between the Dolphins and Bears, during which Grant again got a second-team All-Pro nod in addition to a Pro Bowl invitation. For his career, he has six total return touchdowns to his name along with an average of 24.5 yards per kick return.
Grant has also chipped in offensively at times, topping out at 373 yard in 2020. Expectations were high for him when he inked a three-year Browns deal, but injuries have led to a prolonged absence. The Texas Tech product suffered an Achilles tear in August 2022, followed by a ruptured patella tendon one year later. Considering the missed time, it comes as no surprise he remains a free agent deep into the offseason.
The Jets used undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson as their kick and punt returner last year. The 23-year-old racked up 319 yards and a touchdown on punt returns, adding an average of 23.2 yards on kick returns. That performance could allow him to retain his special teams role moving forward, but an impressive showing from Grant over the coming days could lead to competition being brought in.
With NFL rookie minicamps coming to a close, we can take a look at some of the notable names that were invited for veteran tryouts during the rookies’ introduction to the NFL. The Giants were one of the teams with multiple veteran free agents in attendance, as noted by Pat Leonard of NY Daily News.
Two outside linebackers were auditioned this week in New York. Myjai Sanders worked out with the team after playing sparingly in seven games for the Texans last year. A former third-round pick for the Cardinals, Sanders had three sacks as a rookie but, after falling down the depth chart, found himself being auctioned off as a trade candidate before ultimately getting waived.
The other was Shaka Toney, a former seventh-round pick for the Commanders who was waived just before the draft. He’s only played major snaps in one game over his two years, his lone start out of 26 games played, but totes 1.5 sacks on his record.
The third veteran in attendance was wide receiver Jared Bernhardt.
Here are a few other notable minicamp auditions that took place around the league:
- The Bears also hosted three veterans, even eventually signing tight end Tommy Sweeney. Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports that cornerback Parry Nickerson and wide receiver Freddie Swain were the other two veterans in attendance this week. Nickerson entered the league as a sixth-round draft pick in 2018 for the Jets. Since then, he’s bounced around with one season each at in Jacksonville, Green Bay, Minnesota, and, most recently, Miami. Swain had a decent start to his career after two seasons in Seattle but didn’t play in 2023 after appearing in only four games in 2022 between time in Miami and Denver.
- The Titans were another team to host multiple notable veteran names, namely cornerback William Jackson III and pass rusher Shane Ray, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 and Turron Davenport of ESPN. After playing out a rookie contract in Cincinnati, Jackson earned a three-year, $40.5MM contract with the Commanders but requested a trade that landed him with the Steelers a year in a half into the deal, though he never got to play for them. He hasn’t appeared in a game since Week 5 of 2022. Ray’s absence from the NFL has been even longer. A first-round pick for the Broncos in 2015, Ray hasn’t played in the league since 2018. He joined the Bills last offseason, reuniting with his former Denver teammate Von Miller, but he was cut before the regular season.
- After attending the Eagles’ rookie minicamp, wide receiver and return specialist Jakeem Grant also worked out for the Saints at their rookie minicamp, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Grant hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since the 2021 season as he’s rehabilitated a torn Achilles and a ruptured patella tendon, but the last time he played, he earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
- Lastly, the Dolphins hosted pass rusher Aaron Lynch for a tryout, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Lynch showed promise after tallying 12.5 sacks in his first two seasons with the 49ers but never managed more than three in a season over the next five years. He hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2020.
After sitting out the past two seasons due to injury, Jakeem Grant will be looking to resume his career in Philadelphia. The former All-Pro special teamer will be attending the Eagles rookie minicamp, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston.
It wasn’t too long ago that Grant was one of the league’s top returnmen. He earned his first All-Pro nod in 2020 after returning 29 punts for 330 yards and one touchdown for the Dolphins. That season also coincided with his best offensive showing, as the part-time wideout finished the year with career-highs in receptions (36) and receiving yards (373).
He earned another All-Pro spot in 2021 after splitting the season between Miami and Chicago. He finished the year with another 300-plus punt return yards and a touchdown, and he also set a career-high with 539 kick return yards. In total, Grant has scored six career special teams tackles (four on punts, two on kicks), and he’s returned 119 punts and 110 kickoffs.
Grant signed a three-year, $14MM deal with the Browns prior to the 2022 campaign, but he didn’t end up getting into a single game with his new squad. An Achilles tear ended his 2022 season before it began, and a ruptured patella tendon wiped out his 2023 campaign.
Now, he’ll be hoping to restart his career in Philly. Second-round cornerback Cooper DeJean and fifth-round wideout Ainias Smith are assumed contenders for return spots with the Eagles. The team is also rostering veteran Parris Campbell, who returned eight kickoffs for the Giants last season. Grant will hope to parlay his minicamp appearance into a real contract, and he would then compete with that trio in training camp.