Marcus Sherels

Marcus Sherels Considering Retirement

Marcus Sherels could be calling it a career. There’s a “50-50” chance the Vikings special teams ace retires, reports Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com. The veteran will likely test free agency before making a decision.

The 32-year-old has spent much of his career with the Vikings organization, but 2019 saw him testing new waters. Minnesota didn’t make him an offer last offseason, leading to Sherels signing with the Saints. He was let go by New Orleans at the end of the preseason and went back to the Vikings, but Minny released him in late October. Following a brief stint with the Dolphins, Sherels once again signed with the Vikings. He ultimately appeared in eight total games last season, returning 12 punts.

The 2010 undrafted free agent out of Minnesota has compiled 2,503 punt return yards during his 10-year career, and his 2,480 yards with the Vikings is a franchise-best. Sherels has also returned 57 kickoffs during his career, and he has 108 tackles and one interception. Tomasson notes that it “would not be a surprise” if the front office moves on from the veteran.

With only $1.3MM of salary cap space, the front office will have to make some tough decisions this offseason. We’ve already learned that one of those decisions involves safety Anthony Harris, who sounds likely to leave Minnesota when free agency opens in March.

Dolphins Waive Marcus Sherels

Marcus Sherels‘ tenure with the Dolphins has come to an end. Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets that Miami has waived the veteran returner/defensive back. Safety Montre Hartage has been promoted from the practice squad to take the open roster spot.

Sherels spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Vikings before signing a one-year deal with the Saints this past offseason. The 32-year-old was placed on the injured reserve after the preseason, and he was released by New Orleans days later. He caught on with the Vikings for his second stint with the organization back in September, and he proceeded to appear in three games for Minnesota.

He was cut by the Vikings in early October, and he signed with the Dolphins about a month later. Sherels primarily served as a return man during his five games with Miami. He returned three kickoffs for 57 yards and six punts for 23 yards, adding a fumble along the way.

Hartage, a rookie defensive back out of Northwestern, has spent the majority of the season on Miami’s practice squad. He had a brief stint on the active roster earlier this month. Hartage had a solid preseason with the Dolphins, compiling five tackles.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/5/19

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: CB Marcus Sherels, RB De’Lance Turner (off Ravens’ practice squad)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Activated from PUP: G Phil Haynes
  • Waived: WR Gary Jennings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/19

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed off Jaguars’ practice squad: DT Eli Ankou

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings 

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/24/19

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

  • Waived: G Kofi Amichia
  • Released from IR via injury settlement: DT Destiny Vaeao

Denver Broncos

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Oakland Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Promoted from practice squad: DL Patrick O’Connor

Washington Redskins

NFL Workout Updates: 9/17/19

Here are Tuesday’s updates from the workout circuit, all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter unless otherwise noted.

Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

  • T Gerhard deBeer, Christian DiLauro, Brandon Hitner, C James Murray (link)

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Redskins

NFL Workout Updates: 9/10/19

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

Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC South

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South 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 Buccaneers, FalconsPanthers and Saints are noted below.

Additionally, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads today. 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 South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Saints Reach 53-Man Max

Good news for Saints fans, and fans of lists in general. The Saints have reached the 53-man max – here’s the full rundown.

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Saints To Sign Marcus Sherels

The Saints have agreed to sign return specialist Marcus Sherels to a one-year deal, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes. Sherels spent the previous nine seasons with the Vikings and he’ll look to carve out a role with another promising NFC team. 

Sherels, an undrafted player out of the University of Minnesota, joined up with the Vikings in 2010. Before today’s signing, Sherels tied Everson Griffen as the team’s longest tenured player. Griffen will stay put after agreeing to a revised contract, but Sherels is headed south.

Last year, Sherels averaged 12 yards per punt return, marking the fourth time he’s eclipsed 11 yards per try in his career. Without him, the Vikings will have to look into other punt return options and they may have a few in-house between cornerback Mike Hughes and wide receivers Chad Beebe and Brandon Zylstra. Also, as Tomasson notes, new running back Ameer Abdullah volunteered his services, even though he has yet to return a punt at the pro level.

The Saints, meanwhile, seem to have an affinity for ex-Vikings. In the last week, the Saints have also signed running back Latavius Murray and offensive lineman Nick Easton.