NFL Workout Updates: 10/12/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Chicago Bears
- P Brock Miller (link)
Houston Texans
- OT Dieugot Joseph (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- OT Corey Robinson; RB Thomas Rawls (link)
New England Patriots
- DE Will Clarke; QB Connor Cook; LB Kasim Edebali; WR Devin Ross; TE Shane Wimann (link)
Tennessee Titans
- LS’s Andrew East, Taybor Pepper (link)
Overall, nothing too noteworthy. The Patriots interestingly continue to work out quarterbacks, bringing in former Raiders third-rounder Connor Cook for a tryout. New England has Bryan Hoyer firmly entrenched behind Tom Brady, but also recently worked out Landry Jones.
Meanwhile, the Titans seem set to bring in a new long snapper, as the team also worked out veteran Jon Condo today.
Bears Trim Roster To 53
The Bears have reduced their roster to 53 players by making the following transactions:
Waived:
- T Dejon Allen
- DT Abdullah Anderson
- LB Jonathan Anderson (injured)
- WR Demarcus Ayers
- LS Tanner Carew
- DB Rashard Fant (injured)
- DB John Franklin
- WR Tanner Gentry
- DB Doran Grant
- G Brandon Greene
- LB Ro’Derrick Hoskins
- WR Garrett Johnson
- WR Malachi Jones
- DB Michael Joseph
- DB Cre’von LeBlanc
- DB Jonathon Mincy
- RB Taquan Mizzell
- G Jordan Morgan
- RB Ryan Nall
- DE Elijah Norris
- DB Nick Orr
- G Will Pericak
- TE Colin Thompson
- LB John Timu
- DT Cavon Walker
- P Ryan Winslow
- LB Josh Woods
Released:
- QB Tyler Bray
- RB Knile Davis
- LB Kasim Edebali
- WR Bennie Fowler
- DT John Jenkins
- T Matt McCants
- DE Nicholas Williams
Placed on injured reserve:
- WR Marlon Brown
Bears Sign LB Kasim Edebali
After having played for four teams in 2017, free agent Kasim Edebali has found a home for 2018. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the linebacker has signed with the Bears. The team has also waived defensive back Tyrin Holloway and wide receiver Shaq Roland.
The 2014 undrafted free agent out of Boston College had spent the first three seasons of his career with the Saints, where he played under Chicago’s current general manager, Ryan Pace. Edebali didn’t miss a regular season game during his tenure in New Orleans, and he compiled eight sacks in three years. The 28-year-old bounced around the league in 2017, spending time with the Broncos, Lions, Rams, and Saints. He ended up appearing in 13 total games, compiling a single tackle.
Edebali will be fighting for a backup gig in Chicago. First-rounder Roquan Smith and former first-round pick Leonard Floyd are slotted in as the starters, with Sam Acho, Aaron Lynch, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, and Jonathan Anderson all competing for reps.
Bears Work Out Joshua Perry, Kasim Edebali
The Bears worked out free agent linebackers Joshua Perry and Kasim Edebali at their minicamp on Wednesday, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link).
Perry, a fourth-round pick in 2016, saw a good deal of action during his rookie campaign, although most of his snaps came on special teams (75% playing time). He was waived/injured at the outset of the 2017 season, and subsequently released to the free agent market. After bouncing on-and-off the Colts’ practice squad a year ago, Perry inked a futures deal with Indianapolis in January, only to be waived again last month. He’d give Chicago special teams depth, but Perry would never see the field on defense barring an injury, as Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan will handle inside linebacker duties for the Bears.
Like Perry, Edebali has spent most of his career on special teams, but he could be of a bit more interest to the Bears given his ability to play on the edge. Aside from former first-rounder Leonard Floyd, Chicago is counting on cast-offs such as Aaron Lynch and Sam Acho at outside linebacker, so Edebali could conceivably compete for rotational snaps if signed. The 28-year-old Edebali split the 2017 season between Denver and Detroit following three years in New Orleans.
Saints Claim LB Kasim Edebali
The Saints have added a familiar face as the team gets ready for its first postseason appearance since 2013. The team has claimed linebacker Kasim Edebali off waivers from the Rams, according to Josh Katzenstein of the The Times-Picayune. To free up a roster spot, New Orleans has placed linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha on injured reserve.
Edebali, 28, had previously been employed by the Saints from 2014-16. His best year in New Orleans came in 2015 when he racked up five sacks in a full season of work. Edebali has bounced around a bit this season, having started the year with the Broncos, before making stops with the Lions, Rams and now the Saints after being cut on three different occasions.
The Saints likely made this move to help replace Kikaha as a reserve pass rusher for the remainder of the season. The third-year player out of Washington University had appeared in 12 games with the Saints, collecting four sacks behind the likes Manti Te’o and Michael Mauti on the depth chart. The former 2015 third-round pick had suffered an ankle injury in last week’s win over the Falcons, which surely prompted his move to the IR.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/21/17
Today’s workout updates, with all Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle and veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer:
Arizona Cardinals
- WRs Harvey Binford, Rashad Ross, Brandon Zylstra; DBs Jonathon Mincy, Kacy Rodgers (link)
Cincinnati Bengals
- OL Gabe Ikard, Max Rich, Austin Shepherd, Jerry Ugokwe (link)
Cleveland Browns
- RB Kelvin Taylor; DT Jimmy Staten; LB Max Bullough; CBs Makinton Dorleant, Demetrius McCray, Sheldon Price; DBs James Sample, Earl Wolff (link)
Dallas Cowboys
- WRs K.D. Cannon, Dezmin Lewis, Tevaun Smith; LBs Tyrell Adams, Arthur Miley; DBs Jeremy Boykins, Marcus Cromartie, Marqueston Huff, Ezra Robinson (link)
Denver Broncos
- TE Gavin Escobar; DTs Paul Boyette, Will Sutton; LBs Houston Bates, Jayrone Elliott, Connor Harris, Marcus Rush; DBs Rickey Jefferson, Jordan Moore, J.R. Nelson, D’Joun Smith, Malik Smith (link)
Detroit Lions
- CB Jarnor Jones (link via Balzer)
Houston Texans
- DE Kasim Edebali; DT Rickey Hatley; DB Tracy Howard (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- TE Marcus Lucas (link)
New Orleans Saints
- WR Diontae Spencer (link)
New York Giants
- QB Brandon Burge; WR Nick Demski; OL Freddie Burden; DBs Malik Golden, Ed Reynolds (link)
New York Jets
- G Greg Pyke (link via Balzer)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB James Summers (link)
San Francisco 49ers
- TE Brandon Barnes; OL Erik Austell; DT Euclid Cummings; LB Chris Casher; CB Shaq Richardson (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- RBs Kalif Phillips, Jalen Simmons (link)
Rams Sign OLB Kasim Edebali
Kasim Edebali began his 2017 season playing in a scheme initially put together by Wade Phillips, in signing with the Broncos in March. Now, the fourth-year edge defender will play for Phillips in Los Angeles.
The Rams signed Edebali on Wednesday and placed Brandon Allen on IR, the team announced.
The Lions claimed Edebali off waivers in November after the Broncos parted ways with him, but Detroit followed suit in cutting him. Edebali, who initially played with the Saints from 2014-16, was a free agent for nearly a week. He played 56 snaps for the Broncos and Lions, mostly serving as a special teams presence this season. He received more playing time for the Saints, registering eight sacks in three seasons.
Allen spent all season on the Rams’ active roster after arriving in September via waiver claim. The Redskins also put in a claim for the former Jaguars draft choice in September, but the Rams attained Allen’s rights due to a higher waiver priority.
The 2016 sixth-round pick has yet to throw an NFL pass, and his IR venture — as a result of a back injury — leaves Jared Goff and Sean Mannion as the Rams’ only active-roster quarterbacks.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/19/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Chicago Bears
- WRs Corey Brown, Aaron Dobson, DeVier Posey (link via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM)
Cleveland Browns
- RB Devine Redding; WRs C.J. Board, Devin Lucien; TE Henry Krieger-Coble; CBs T.J. Lee, Jonathon Mincy; S Kenny Ladler (Twitter links)
Detroit Lions
- WRs James Wright, Brandon Zylstra (Twitter links)
Green Bay Packers
- QBs Garrett Fugate, Matt McGloin; WR Jake Kumerow; C Lucas Crowley; LB Jacob Lindsey; CB Manny Asprilla (link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Zach Conque; CB Dwayne Thomas (link)
Los Angeles Rams
- CBs Dexter McDougle, Taurean Nixon; S Trey Caldwell (link)
Philadelphia Eagles
- RB Ka’Deem Carey; DE Kasim Edebali; LB Ja’Gared Davis; DBs Lorenzo Jerome, Kenny Ladler, Stefan McClure (link)
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/17
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Lavar Edwards
- Signed off Colts‘ practice squad: WR Matt Hazel
- Waived: DL T.Y. McGill
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers: DT Rodney Coe
- Waived: DE Kasim Edebali
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted to active roster: DB Isaiah Johnson
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted to active roster: DL Darius Latham
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Cory James
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on injured reserve: WR Victor Bolden
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted to active roster: LB Paul Dawson
Lions Claim LB Kasim Edebali
The Lions have claimed linebacker Kasim Edebali off waivers from the Broncos and waived defensive end George Johnson, the club announced today.
Edebali, 28, had appeared in nine games for Denver this season, but hadn’t made a dent on defense, as he’d seen only 55 defensive snaps on the year. His real action had come on special teams, where he’d played on more than 60% of the Broncos’ snaps. Detroit general manager Bob Quinn has shown a willingness to pay for special teams prowess in the past, and Edebali comes cheap — he’s only due about $400K for the remainder of the 2017 campaign.
Johnson, meanwhile, leaves the Lions after only 24 hours, as the club has just re-signed him on Monday. Detroit has employed Johnson at various points during his career, including his career season in 2014 when he posted six sacks. Injuries and ineffectiveness have marred Johnson’s recent output, but given his familiarity with the Lions’ defense, it wouldn’t be surprise to see him back in Detroit at some point later this season.