HEADLINES

Joe Callahan

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/2/16

December 2nd, 2016 at 5:03pm CST by Zachary Links

Friday’s practice squad changes:

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: QB Joe Callahan
  • Cut: WR Dez Stewart

Indianapolis Colts

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/28/16

November 28th, 2016 at 6:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s minor moves.

  • Defensive tackle Darius Kilgo fell out of the Broncos’ rotation this season but will have a chance to crack the Patriots‘ after the AFC East-leading team claimed the second-year player off waivers, Doug Kyed of NESN.com reports. To make room for Kilgo, the Patriots waived running back D.J. Foster, whom Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link) notes could be bound for the practice squad if he clears waivers. Kilgo did not make it far into waivers, going to a contending team shorthanded due to Alan Branch‘s suspension. The 24-year-old interior lineman played in nine games for the Broncos this season, while Foster represented a superfluous fifth active running back for the Pats once Dion Lewis returned. Kilgo’s arrival in New England will give the Patriots the Broncos’ 2015 sixth-round pick after trading their own 2015 fifth-rounder to Denver in A.J. Derby.
  • The Bengals signed defensive tackle DeShawn Williams two days after waiving him, Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets. In turn, the team placed cornerback Chykie Brown on IR, per Owczarski (on Twitter). The 30-year-old Brown played in five games for Cincinnati this season, doing so after playing four years with the Ravens and Giants.
  • Joe Callahan could venture to another city after the Browns became the third team to waive the rookie quarterback this season, doing so to clear a path for a Robert Griffin III return, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Both the Packers and Saints waived the UDFA earlier this season. Each expressed interest in moving Callahan to their practice squad for further development, so the Division III product could have a landing spot with one of his former organizations.
  • The Cardinals announced that they have waived safety Christian Bryant, whom they promoted from their practice squad earlier this month. A 2014 UDFA, Bryant vacillated between the Rams’ active roster and practice squad in 2015 before catching on with the Cardinals this year.

Extra Points: Eagles, Rams, Hawks, Bears, Pack

October 25th, 2016 at 10:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Would a Torrey Smith trade make sense for the Eagles? Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com points out that fans should not focus on Smith’s stats as he has only 13 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. The Niners’ offense has struggled and that, of course, includes their massive issues at quarterback. At the same time, he is in the second year of a five-year, $40MM contract with $22MM guaranteed. As much as the Eagles might want an impact receiver, that’s a high price tag for a player of his caliber. Ultimately, Smith is a 27-year-0ld deep threat that is worth exploring, but the Eagles will have to consider his salary and the compensation they’d have to send back.

Let’s take a look at more from the NFC:

  • Are the Rams gearing up to install No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff as the starter? Coach Jeff Fisher says Case Keenum is still his starting quarterback, but Goff is now taking increased reps with the first team in practice (via the Associated Press). “He’s going to get reps,” Fisher said of Goff. “I don’t feel like Case needs the reps Wednesday and early next week, so Jared will get those reps, which is good.” One might expect Los Angeles to make the change during its bye week, but Fisher says he’s not ready to throw the rookie into the fire. Sources tell Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) that Goff still isn’t ready to read defenses or face blitzes, meaning the rookie is likely to sit on the bench for the time being.
  • The Seahawks can save quarterback Russell Wilson by trading for an offensive tackle before the trade deadline, Alex Marvez of The Sporting News opines. Seahawks GM John Schneider hasn’t been shy about making big moves in the past, and Marvez feels that this is a perfect time for another. Both Joe Thomas and Joe Staley can reportedly be had via trade and Marvez feels that they should pounce immediately rather than waiting until the deadline gets closer and other teams get increasingly desperate.
  • With Bears money to spend and no defensive playmakers to speak of, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) suggests that they should go after Eric Berry in free agency. Berry, widely regarded as one of the best safeties in the NFL today, may not return to Kansas City after the two sides could not reach agreement on an extension this summer.
  • The Packers did not put in a waiver claim on quarterback Joe Callahan yesterday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Green Bay would have liked to re-acquire Callahan, whom they waived recently, but the club wanted him on its practice squad, not on the 53-man roster.

Browns Make Handful Of Moves

October 24th, 2016 at 4:22pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Browns have claimed quarterback Joe Callahan off waivers from the Saints and center Gabe Ikard off waivers from the Bills, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. To make room for those two, the Browns have waived fullback Malcolm Johnson and defensive back Darius Hillary.

Joe Callahan

Callahan, an undrafted rookie from Division III Wesley, will now join his third team this month. The Packers previously cut Callahan on Oct. 13, paving the way for the Saints to add him for what amounted to a short-lived stint in New Orleans. The way things have gone under center this year for Cleveland, he could end up on the field at some point.

Injuries have forced the Browns to shuffle through five quarterbacks, the latest being fifth-round rookie Kevin Hogan. He debuted in the Browns’ 31-17 loss to the Bengals on Sunday after fellow rookie Cody Kessler departed with a concussion. Kessler is currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol, meaning it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to play against the Jets on Sunday. Josh McCown, who has missed most of the season with a broken collarbone, could return this week. However, if he and Kessler are out, Hogan and Callahan would be the Browns’ top two signal-callers.

Johnson, whom the Browns chose in the sixth round of last year’s draft, was active for their first seven games this season and picked up one start. He also notched five receptions.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/16

October 22nd, 2016 at 4:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s minor moves.

  • The 49ers performed some more DuJuan Harris-related paperwork by again adding the running back to their active roster from their practice squad, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News reports. San Francisco cut defensive tackle Taylor Hart, whom the team claimed from the Eagles off waivers earlier this season, to make room. This marks Harris’ third promotion to the 53-man unit after being called up in September twice and subsequently waived soon after. The 49ers are going to be without Carlos Hyde in Week 7 and are in need of a third running back behind Mike Davis and Shaun Draughn. Harris hasn’t played in a game yet this season.
  • The Saints became the latest team to waive quarterback Joe Callahan. New Orleans jettisoned the 23-year-old signal-caller and signed linebacker Chris McCain from its practice squad, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Callahan has a path back to the Saints, with the team wanting him back, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). But the Packers did as well and saw the Saints claim him before he could pass to their practice squad, so Callahan landing somewhere soon seems likely.
  • In a wide receiver exchange, the Buccaneers promoted Freddie Martino to their 53-man roster and waived Donteea Dye, the team announced. Martino broke into the NFL with the 2014 Falcons, who employed current Bucs HC Dirk Koetter as their OC. He played in two games earlier this season but has yet to catch a pass in the NFL.

Saints Claim Joe Callahan From Packers

October 14th, 2016 at 4:10pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Saints have claimed quarterback Joe Callahan off waivers from the Packers, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. In a corresponding move, the Saints have released offensive lineman Khalif Barnes, according to Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link).

Joe Callahan

The Packers cut Callahan on Thursday, but their hope was that the rookie would pass through waivers and end up on their practice squad. He’ll instead head to New Orleans, which has two quarterbacks on its roster – Drew Brees and Luke McCown – and Garrett Grayson on its taxi squad. Callahan, a former standout at Division III Wesley College, joined the Pack as an undrafted free agent this year. Thanks to an excellent preseason, he unexpectedly cracked Green Bay’s 53-man roster, though his stay only lasted five weeks.

As for Barnes, the Saints have shuffled him on and off their roster since August. The former Jaguar and Raider has 151 appearances and 117 starts to his name, but he hasn’t yet seen action this year.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/13/16

October 13th, 2016 at 5:44pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Thursday’s minor moves:

  • The Packers have cut quarterback Joe Callahan, per a team announcement. Callahan joined the Packers in May as an undrafted free agent from Division III Wesley and surprisingly earned a roster spot, but he was unable to make it past Week 5. His time in Green Bay isn’t necessarily up, though, as the team plans to sign him to its practice squad if he goes through waivers unclaimed, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
  • The Panthers have waived wide receiver Damiere Byrd, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Byrd hooked on with the Panthers last year after going undrafted from South Carolina. He hasn’t yet logged any NFL action.

Packers Sign 19 Undrafted Free Agents

May 6th, 2016 at 12:27pm CST by Luke Adams

The Packers have announced their undrafted rookies, confirming in a press release that they’ve added 19 college free agents to their 90-man roster. The team has added four wideouts to its already-crowded receiving corps, and also signed three cornerbacks. Here’s the full breakdown of the 19-man UDFA class for Green Bay: