Matt Daniels

Vikings Hire Matt Daniels As ST Coordinator

Kevin O’Connell‘s staff has another addition. The Vikings have hired Matt Daniels as their new special teams coordinator, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).

Daniels, 32, had a four-year playing career in the NFL, split between the Rams, Jaguars and Chargers. Undrafted out of Duke, he was almost exclusively used on special teams while bouncing on and off of practice squads. Three years after his playing days were over, he began coaching in 2018.

Daniels’ first location on the sidelines was the same as his first home on the field. He worked as an assistant special teams coach with the Rams for two seasons. That led him to the Cowboys, where he held the same title for an additional two campaigns. This will be his first time leading a ST unit at the college or NFL level.

In 2021, the Vikings ranked 13th in the league in DVOA on special teams. That was actually a slightly higher ranking than their offensive and defensive units, but still a middle-of-the-pack performance indicative of the team as a whole. Daniels represents a young, comparatively inexperienced coach to lead the unit – not unlike the selection of Wes Phillips as offensive coordinator. With those two, along with O’Connell himself serving as an NFL head coach for the first time, there will be a steep learning curve as the team looks to return to NFC contention.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/13/16

Today’s minor moves:

  • Cornerbacks Isaiah Frey and Dax Swanson signed with the Cowboys, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Both players tried out for Dallas last week and apparently made a good impression.
  • The Bills have signed offensive lineman Chris Martin to a one-year contract, according to agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link). Martin, 26, has been a member of seven NFL teams and spent time on the Bills’ practice squad last season.
  • After being waived by the Cowboys, cornerback Terrance Mitchell will latch on with the other NFL club in Texas, as the Texans have claimed him off waivers, reports Mark Berman of FOX26 (Twitter link).
  • The Lions waived wide receiver Austin Willis and signed defensive back Keith Lewis today, as Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press tweets.
  • The Chargers cut safety Matt Daniels from injured reserve, per Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). the two sides presumably reached an injury settlement.
  • The Chiefs have signed former Akron defensive back Bryce Cheek (Akron) while the Rams have inked former San Diego State long snapper Jeff Overbaugh (San Diego State), Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports tweets.
  • Tight end Michael Williams (Patriots), cornerback Brandon McGee (Cowboys), and receiver Corey Washington (Lions) all reverted to injured reserve after clearing waivers, according to Balzer (Twitter link).

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/24/16

We’ll keep track of today’s draft signings and other minor moves here:

  • The Dolphins agreed to terms with two members of their draft class today, signing third-round receiver Leonte Carroo and seventh-round tight end Thomas Duarte, as Wilson reports (Twitter link). Miami now only has third-round running back Kenyan Drake left to sign, as PFR’s Zach Links detailed when looking at unsigned 2016 draftees earlier today.
  • The Lions waived offensive lineman Darius Johnson on Tuesday, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press adds (via Twitter) that Johnson was waived with an injury waiver designation. Johnson, a Middle Tennessee State product, signed with Detroit following the team’s rookie minicamp.
  • The Chargers placed safety Matt Daniels on the injured reserve list with a leg injury, Eric Williams of ESPN.com tweets. Daniels appeared in only one game for San Diego last season. Former Michigan linebacker James Ross has been signed to fill Daniel’s void, a source tells Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link).
  • After signing as an undrafted free agent out of UTSA, edge rusher Jason Neill was waived today by the Cowboys, according to Wilson (Twitter link). To replace Neil, Dallas signed fellow defensive end Zach Wood, tweets Wilson.
  • The Panthers placed tight end Jake McGee on waivers with an injury designation last week, and after reverting to injured reserve, McGee has now been cut from IR with an injury settlement, per Wilson (Twitter link).

Earlier updates:

  • The Bills have signed second-round linebacker Reggie Ragland, according to his agents at Vanguard Sports (on Twitter). Ragland was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 97 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, and six pass breakups. GM Doug Whaley has said that he expects to see Ragland in the starting lineup to begin the 2016 season.
  • The Raiders announced that they have signed free agent wide receivers Robert Herron and Nathan Palmer. To make room, the Raiders have waived/injured wide receiver Andre Debose and waived quarterback Garrett Gilbert. Palmer auditioned for New Orleans last week alongside a handful of notable names, including Hakeem Nicks. Herron was originally selected by the Bucs in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played in eight games his rookie season, posting six receptions for 58 yards (9.7 avg.) and one touchdown.
  • The Browns signed undrafted free agent wide receiver David Richards, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. The Arizona product first hooked on with Atlanta after the draft but was waived soon after.
  • The Jets waived tight end Jerome Cunningham and signed running back Romar Morris, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.
  • The Buccaneers have placed safety Johnny Lowdermilk on the reserved-retired list, creating a second opening on the 90-man roster, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets.

Chargers Place Eric Weddle, Others On IR

1:50pm: The Chargers have confirmed that Weddle has officially been placed on IR, one of six moves today affecting the club’s 53-man roster. Here’s the full list:

Placed on IR:

Signed to 53-man roster:

12:59pm: Veteran safety Eric Weddle may have played his last game with the Chargers. After injuring his groin in the team’s Week 16 contest against the Raiders, Weddle is being placed on injured reserve by San Diego, ending his season, per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Weddle, who will turn 31 next Monday, has been with the Chargers since being selected by the club in the second ronud of the 2007 draft. In his nine seasons with San Diego, he has appeared in 137 total regular season games (122 starts), earning three Pro Bowl berths and two All-Pro nods. The 2015 campaign was his first year without an interception — he has racked up 19 over the course of his career.

With Weddle’s contract set to expire, the Utah product appears likely to continue his NFL career with a team besides the Chargers. While he had some interest in engaging in extension discussions with San Diego earlier in the year, the team didn’t reciprocate that interest, prompting agent David Canter to suggest that his client would look forward to hitting free agency in the offseason. Unless the Chargers decide to use their franchise tag on Weddle, he looks like a good bet to reach the open market.

The Chargers will make a corresponding move to fill Weddle’s spot on the roster, but that transactions hasn’t been reported or announced yet.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/16/15

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL, with the latest moves added to the list throughout the day:

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

Indianapolis Colts

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: WR Shane Wynn (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com)

Philadelphia Eagles

San Diego Chargers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington

Workout Notes: 12/16/15

It’s been a busy last couple of days around the NFL, with teams still looking to fill up their squads for the rest of the season. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweeted a whole bunch of workout notes this afternoon, which we’ve compiled for you below…

Arizona Cardinals

  • CB Mitchell White (link)

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Read more

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/17/15

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: DE B.J. McBryde (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
  • Cut: DT Eric Crume

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: DT Justin Hamilton, DB Trovon Reed (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)

St. Louis Rams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Workout Notes: Saints, Seahawks, Jaguars

Today’s workouts from around the NFL..

  • The Jets worked out defensive end Lawrence Okoye, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. Okoye, a former University of Kentucky discus hurler, had previous stops with the 49ers and Cardinals.

Earlier updates:

Workout Updates: 10/16/15

We’ve passed along a few of the more notable updates from the last few days on workouts and free agent visits, including the Giants trying out wide receivers like Terrelle Pryor and the Cowboys bringing in running back LaMike James. However, there are plenty more tryout updates from this week to round up, and we’ve got them all below. All links point to the Twitter account of Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, unless otherwise indicated.

Arizona Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

  • Devin Gardner, WR (link)
  • Josh Harper, WR

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo, LB (link)

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/8/15

Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves..

  • The Jaguars have released safety Matt Daniels from injured reserve with an injury settlement, as John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets. Daniels, 26, spent his first two years in the league with the Rams before hooking on with the Jaguars in 2014 as a practice squad member.
  • The Saints reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Nick Toon, who will be waived off injured reserve, Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune tweets. Toon hopes to be ready to play in a couple of weeks, Woodbery adds.
  • Marion Grice and Jimmy Legree of the Cardinals and Jimmie Hunt of the Packers were removed from IR with injury settlements, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).