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Maurice Alexander

Lions Finalize Initial 53-Man Roster

August 30th, 2022 at 7:57pm CST by Ely Allen

Detroit got an early start on reducing its roster size Monday, but the team made the final moves toward 53 players Tuesday. Here are the moves from today that got the Lions there:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform:

Houston was the only member of the Lions’ 2022 rookie class that failed to make the initial 53-man roster. The young linebacker should have a good chance to land on the team’s 16-man practice squad Wednesday, if he can clear waivers. On the other hand, undrafted defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor found his way onto the roster after a disruptive preseason. Another undrafted rookie, running back Greg Bell, didn’t make the roster, but will remain with the team on Detroit’s injured reserve.

There were a number of surprising, but necessary, cuts today. Igwebuike had a decent chance to make the roster due to his experience and ability returning kicks. Kennedy led the team in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns during the preseason. His lack of effective use on special teams likely lost him his spot on the final roster. Parker started much of last year at nickel for the Lions. Unfortunately he was expendable after the offseason additions of veteran JuJu Hughes and rookie Chase Lucas.

The winner of the kicking battle has been crowned as Austin Seibert made the final roster over Patterson. Patterson showed plenty of ability during the last couple of weeks and it would be no surprise if he was to be claimed by another team off waivers by tomorrow.

Finally, it appears the backup quarterback battle was won by David Blough, who outperformed Boyle in preseason. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Detroit peruse the mass of recently waived players for a new quarterback. They have the second-highest priority on the waiver wire and should have their pick of the litter if they think they can improve on Blough.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/22

August 3rd, 2022 at 6:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

  • Signed: LS Harrison Elliott
  • Activated from PUP: DB Tristin McCollum
  • Waived-injured: WR Davion Davis

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

*Per Dan Duggan of The Athletic (on Twitter), Gono has left the squad due to an undisclosed physical issue. The lineman will meet with a doctor tomorrow, which should provide some clarity.

Bills Sign DT Corey Liuget

November 6th, 2019 at 8:15am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bills have signed veteran defensive tackle Corey Liuget after working him out on Tuesday, the club announced. In a corresponding roster move, Buffalo has placed linebacker Maurice Alexander on injured reserve.

Liuget, 29, signed a fully guaranteed, $1MM deal with the Raiders in August, but only lasted two months in Oakland before getting cut in late October. The former first-round pick didn’t appear in a game for the Raiders until Week 4, and then played on fewer than 50 defensive snaps over the course of three contests, posting three tackles and one quarterback hit during that time.

Liuget, of course, spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Chargers after entering the league in 2011. Typically a consistent producer, Liuget suffered multiple setbacks in a 2018 campaign that couldn’t have gone much worse. A suspension, pay cut, and season-ending knee injury littered what became a lost season and Liuget was released by Los Angeles in February.

Now in Buffalo, Liuget will join a defensive tackle depth chart that already includes Star Lotulelei, Jordan Phillips, Ed Oliver, and Vincent Taylor. Liuget will likely play in a reserve, run-stuffing role for the time being, but there’s always a chance he could absorb a larger role as the season progresses.

Bills To Sign Maurice Alexander

March 22nd, 2019 at 5:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Maurice Alexander is trading the rain for the snow. On Friday, the former Seahawks safety inked a free agent deal with the Bills. It’s a one-year pact worth $1.375MM, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak (Twitter link). 

Interestingly, the Bills’ press release on Alexander lists him as a linebacker as opposed to a safety. That could be an indication that Alexander is slotted to be the backup weakside linebacker behind Matt Milano, if he is able to edge Corey Thompson for a roster spot. Ultimately, Alexander’s primary role may come on special teams, but time will tell.

Alexander, 28, started at strong safety and free safety for the Rams in 2016 and ’17. His best season came at strong safety in ’16 when he registered 50 tackles, four pass breakups, two interceptions, and a sack.

East Notes: Cowboys, Crawford, Jets, Bills

March 20th, 2019 at 3:38pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest from the AFC and NFC East divisions:

  • Cowboys defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford was caught on camera brawling inside of a Florida bar, as TMZ details. The 6’4″, 280-pound lineman is shown fighting off four bouncers at once and holding his own. Then, the fight spilled outside, where Crawford got tangled up with multiple cops. Interestingly, Crawford was not arrested and has not been charged with a crime. However, the NFL might have something to say about the incident. After losing Randy Gregory and David Irving to indefinite bans, the Cowboys can ill afford to lose anyone else on the D-Line for the start of the 2019 season.
  • Center was a major need for the Jets this offseason, but they did not make offers to Mitch Morse or Matt Paradis, the top two centers in this year’s free agent class (via Manish Mehta of the Daily News). Instead, they re-upped Jonotthan Harrison on a two-year deal with the hope that he can compete with other versatile interior line additions to come. Brett Jones, who has drawn interest from the Jets and a quintet of other clubs, could be added to the mix.
  • Seahawks free agent Maurice Alexander, a longtime starter for the Rams, will visit the Bills on Thursday and Friday, a source tells NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

Seahawks To Sign Maurice Alexander

October 3rd, 2018 at 9:27am CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have signed safety Maurice Alexander, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The former Rams safety will help fill the void after Earl Thomas was placed on IR. 

Alexander, 27, started 14 games for the Rams in 2016 and started four contests for the club last year. The former fourth-round pick wasn’t playing all that well, however, as Pro Football Focus graded Alexander as a bottom-10 safety in 2016. But Alexander offers both youth and experience, and could become a valuable reserve for the Seahawks.

For now, the Seahawks are expected to move forward with Tedric Thompson as Thomas’ replacement in the starting lineup. He joins Tre Flowers, Bradley McDougald, and Shaquill Griffin in a secondary that is talented, but not Legion Of Boom-level great.

If he’s active on Sunday, Alexander’s first contest will come against the Rams. Currently at 2-2, the Seahawks will look to hand the Rams their first loss of 2018.

NFL Workout Updates: 10/2/18

October 2nd, 2018 at 9:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • T Andrew Nelson (link)

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Seahawks Move Roster To 53

September 1st, 2018 at 7:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Placed on NFI:

Placed on injured reserve:

Cut:

Seahawks Sign Maurice Alexander

March 17th, 2018 at 8:44am CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks have signed safety Maurice Alexander, passes along Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). The defensive back was released by the Rams last October and subsequently met with Seattle. While he didn’t ink a deal back then, the two have agreed to deal this time around.

The 27-year-old had spent his entire four-year career with the Rams organization. Following a career season in 2016 that saw him compile 38 tackles, one sack, and two interceptions, the former fourth-rounder took a drastic step back in 2017.

Alexander finished the campaign with 13 tackles in four games (four starts). He was ultimately released by the organization in October, and he sat out for the remainder of the season.

Seahawks Notes: Avril, Joeckel, Alexander

October 17th, 2017 at 8:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

As he continues to deal with a neck injury, Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril has sought multiple medical opinions and is visiting another doctor today, tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. Head coach Pete Carroll originally indicated Avril would be sidelined “awhile” with a stinger and numbness in his arm, but subsequent reports have expressed concern about the future of Avril’s career. While Seattle has the defensive line depth to withstand a Avril absence (Frank Clark, Marcus Smith), his absence will certainly be felt, and doubts about his ability to continue playing are certainly worrisome.

Here’s more from Seattle:

  • Left guard Luke Joeckel is expected to miss four-to-five weeks after undergoing knee surgery during the Seahawks’ bye week, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Joeckel, who signed a one-year, $8MM contract this spring, has played every snap at left guard for Seattle this season. Perhaps unsurprisingly given his track record with the Jaguars, Joeckel had struggled — along with the rest of the Seahawks’ offensive line — through five games, grading as the No. 44 guard among 75 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Mark Glowinski and rookie Ethan Pocic will now compete to replace Joeckel, per Condotta.
  • Free agent safety Maurice Alexander is visiting with the Seahawks this week, as Condotta writes in a full piece. Seattle should be relatively familiar with Alexander, as he’d spent the entirety of his four-year NFL career with the Rams. Alexander, who has also auditioned for the Jets and Cardinals since being waived last week, offers valuable experience (18 starts over the past season-plus), but he’d seemingly be overkill in Seattle. The Seahawks already boast two of the NFL’s best safeties in Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, plus veteran Bradley McDougald and rookies Delano Hill and Tedric Thompson in reserve.
  • If recent history is any indication, Seahawks defenders Dion Jordan and DeShawn Shead likely won’t return to the field for three more weeks, opines Brady Henderson of ESPN.com. Both Jordan, a defensive end, and Shead, a cornerback, are allowed to resume practicing today, but neither player is ready to roll just yet. Once they are, Seattle will get a three-week window during which Jordan and/or Shead can be added to the 53-man roster. Jordan is currently on the non-football injury list, while Shead is on the physically unable to perform list. As Henderson notes, the Seahawks have typically given their players ample practice time before activating them.
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