Kevin Smith

NFL Workout Updates: 12/13/16

We’ve already passed along one batch of workout updates earlier today, but clubs with continuously taking a look at free agents as the season comes to a close — likely with an eye on futures contracts — we have a fresh listing of tryouts to share. Here’s the latest from the workout circuit:

  • Before signing Shaquille Riddick to their practice squad earlier today, the Steelers also worked out fellow linebacker Davis Tull, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Tull was waived from Atlanta’s practice squad in early November.
  • The Broncos auditioned the following 10 players, according to Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com (Twitter links): linebackers Khairi Fortt, Deon Lacey, and John Lotulelei; safeties Kevin Peterson, Josh Evans, Dezmen Southward; and cornerbacks Keith Baxter, Mike Hilton, Demetrius McCray, and Corey Tindal.
  • Like Denver, the Saints also worked out a large group of players. The full list, per Nick Underhill of the Advocate (all links go to Twitter): quarterback Sean Renfree; running backs Will Ratelle, Darrel Young, and Soma Vainuku; wide receivers Max McCaffrey, Derel Walker, and Kevin Smith; linebackers Khalil Bass and Adam Bighill; defensive end T.J. Fatinikun; defensive tackle Drake Nevis; defensive backs Tony Burnett, Otha Foster, Anthony Gaitor, and Forest Hightower.
  • The Packers worked out linebacker Frank Beltre and defensive lineman David Moala today, reports Rob Demovksy of ESPN.com. The third member of that tryout, linebacker Jordan Tripp, was ultimately signed to the active roster.
  • The Buccaneers tried out cornerback Tre Jones and linebacker Raphael Kirby, per Caplan (Twitter link).

AFC Notes: Colts, Jets, Patriots, Bills

Although the Colts are now thin at linebacker following D’Qwell Jackson‘s four-game suspension, Indianapolis is unlikely to forge a reunion with free agent Nate Irving, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). Irving, whom Indy released in September, worked out for the Colts in last month, but is still looking for a contract. Instead, Indianapolis is likely to hand reserve ‘backer Edwin Jackson more playing time.

Here’s more from the AFC:

Sam Robinson and Zach Links contributed to this post.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/6/2016

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

  • Signed: RB Stephen Houston

Clevleand Browns

  • Signed: S Justin Currie

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: WR Bernard Reedy

Tennessee Titans

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/16

Today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: OL Kevin Graf

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: WR Chris Hubert

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: T Jake Rodgers, T Tyrus Thompson

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Signed: CB Tony McRae

New England Patriots

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

  • Signed: LB Wynton McManis

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Seahawks’ Roster Now At 53

The Seahawks haven’t officially released their moves today, but as Curtis Crabtree of KJR noted (Twitter link), the club has listed their transactions on their official team depth chart.

Cut:

Waived/injured:

Waived From IR:

The Seahawks also announced that they’ve acquired defensive back Dewey McDonald (for a conditional 2017 pick, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com) from the Raiders, and, as we previously noted, acquired safety L.J. McCray from the 49ers.

Seahawks Down To 75

The Seahawks are down to the mandated 75-man limit. Here’s a full rundown of today’s moves.

Waived/Injured:

Waived:

None of today’s moves were major surprises, though Brooks was a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft.

Smith, Sokoli, and Lewis were on the Seahawks’ regular season roster in 2015.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/17/15

Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions from across the NFL:

  • The Dolphins waived center Sam Brenner, as Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets.
  • The Browns waived tight end Rob Housler (hamstring) from injured reserve today, Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal tweets.
  • The Patriots waived offensive lineman Chris Barker while promoting wide receiver Chris Harper from the practice squad, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.

Earlier Updates:

  • The Seahawks have waived wide receiver Chris Matthews, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Matthews had just four receptions during his 12 regular-season games with Seattle, matching the four balls he caught in last season’s Super Bowl against the Pats. Per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter), the Seahawks are promoting wide receiver Kevin Smith to the active roster to replace Matthews.
  • The Dolphins will sign linebacker James-Michael Johnson, tweets Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Johnson was just released by the Lions on Saturday, so he didn’t last long on the open market.
  • Speaking of the Lions, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that, as expected, the club will place cornerback Josh Wilson on injured reserve due to what Jim Caldwell called a “significant” knee injury. Detroit is expected to sign a new cornerback shortly to help solidify a position that has been hit hard by injuries.
  • The Titans have added two players to their 53-man roster, signing wide receiver Tre McBride from their own practice squad, along with wide receiver Andrew Turzilli from the 49ers‘ practice squad (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com). The two wideouts will take the roster spots vacated by WR Justin Hunter and CB Jason McCourty, who were formally placed on injured reserve today.
  • The Bears have made a change at cornerback, waiving Terrance Mitchell and promoting Jacoby Glenn from their practice squad to fill the newly-opened roster spot, the team announced today (Twitter link).
  • The Chiefs have placed tight end James O’Shaughnessy on injured reserve due to a foot injury, creating an opening for defensive tackle David King, whom Kansas City claimed off waivers from the Seahawks, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
  • The Giants have waived linebacker James Morris, according to a team release. Morris, who was elevated from the practice squad at the end of October, played on special teams during his brief stint on New York’s 53-man roster.

Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC West

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cardinals, 49ers, Seahawks, and Rams are noted below.

Additionally, as of 11:00am today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s NFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers

  • Signed to practice squad (link via Matt Maiocco):
    • WR DiAndre Campbell
    • CB Marcus Cromartie
    • RB Kendall Gaskins
    • DT Kaleb Ramsey
    • OLB Marcus Rush
    • NT Garrison Smith
    • QB Dylan Thompson
    • OG Andrew Tiller (Twitter link via Matt Barrows)
    • S Jermaine Whitehead (Twitter link via Barrows)

Seattle Seahawks

St. Louis Rams

  • Signed to practice squad:

Seahawks Confirm McCray Trade, Set Roster

The Seahawks have confirmed one of their two recently-reported acquisitions, announcing that they’ve traded for safety Kelcie McCray, sending a fifth-round draft pick to the Chiefs in the swap, as we heard earlier. According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter), the deal for McCray is a public sign of what the team has privately told Kam Chancellor: Seattle isn’t willing to negotiate with him.

We’re still awaiting official word on Seattle’s reported agreement with running back Fred Jackson, so an additional cut will be required when that move is finalized. For now though, the Seahawks are down to 53 players. Via a team release, here’s how they got there:

Released:

  • CB Will Blackmon
  • TE Anthony McCoy

Waived:

  • LB Tyrell Adams
  • TE Rashaun Allen
  • QB R.J. Archer
  • DE Obum Gwacham
  • S Keenan Lambert
  • S Ronald Martin
  • DT T.Y. McGill
  • CB Douglas McNeil
  • OL Keavon Milton
  • S Ryan Murphy
  • OL Will Pericak
  • LB Eric Pinkins
  • OL Terry Poole
  • LB Alex Singleton
  • WR Kevin Smith
  • RB Rod Smith
  • DE Julius Warmsley
  • WR Kasen Williams

Placed on injured reserve:

  • CB Mohammed Seisay
  • RB Robert Turbin

Placed on reserve/non-football illness list:

  • DT Jesse Williams

Minor Moves: Monday

We’ll round up today’s minor transactions from around the NFL in the space below, with any additional moves added to the top of the list throughout the day. Here’s the latest:

  • The Saints have re-signed exclusive rights free agent Senio Kelemete to a one-year, minimum-salary contract for 2015, as first reported by Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune. Kelemete, who only saw six offensive snaps all year as a reserve at center and guard for New Orleans, confirmed the agreement with an announcement on Twitter.
  • After announcing their first round of reserve/futures signings last week, the Seahawks locked up several more players to new deals today, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Condotta tweets that the club has officially signed wide receiver Kevin Smith, quarterback R.J. Archer, guard C.J. Davis, long snapper Luke Ingram, linebacker Brendan Kelly, defensive end Will Pericak, and center Jared Wheeler, whose agreement was previously reported.