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Orie Lemon

Kellen Winslow, Ben Tate Join Spring League

March 22nd, 2017 at 11:57am CST by Zachary Links

The Spring League kicks off in April and it will feature some notable names looking to resurrect their football careers. Defensive end Greg Hardy, tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., cornerback Brandon Browner, and running back Ben Tate are among the players who have been confirmed as participants, according to a press release. Greg Hardy (vertical)

Winslow has not played in an NFL game since the 2013 season and we haven’t heard much from him since he worked out for the Packers last August. Tate, a former second-round pick, showed lots of promise in Houston but could not capitalize on a starting opportunity with the Browns in 2014. Hardy and Browner first committed to the league in early March.

The Spring League consists of four teams comprised of veteran free agents. The league will conduct practices and play six games from April 5 through April 26. Players who are currently on NFL rosters will not be eligible to participate.

The league has secured five quarterbacks thus far, including Chiefs 2011 fifth-round pick Ricky Stanzi and NFL practice squad journeyman McLeod Bethel-Thompson. At wide receiver, there’s former Ram Brandon Gibson, Jets 2014 fourth-round pick Jalen Saunders, and one-time Bills WR2 David Nelson. Former Jets defensive back Ellis Lankster and Texans 2013 third-round defensive tackle Sam Montgomery will also be suiting up for The Spring League next month.

The full list of players can be found below. In addition to those listed here, Pro Football Rumors has learned that another 30 players are expected to join prior to the start of training camp.

Quarterbacks

  • Hutson Mason
  • Ricky Stanzi
  • McLeod Bethel-Thompson
  • Zach Kline
  • Jeremy Cannon

Running backs

Wide receivers

  • Jalen Saunders
  • David Nelson
  • Kenzel Doe
  • Brandon Gibson
  • Daje’ Johnson
  • Gavin Lutman
  • Tyler McDonald
  • J.D. Woods
  • Sed Cunningham
  • Lawrence Smith
  • Terrance Lewis
  • Rashon Ceaser
  • Kendrick Wiggins

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Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/15

December 18th, 2015 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, as teams get their rosters set for this weekend:

  • Defensive tackle C.J. Mosley will become a free agent if and when he clears waivers — per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), the Dolphins have cut Mosley from injured reserve. Since there’s no word of an injury settlement, the former Lion should be healthy, so another team may decide to sign him for the stretch run.
  • The Buccaneers have waived linebacker Orie Lemon, tweets Wilson. The move leaves Tampa Bay with an open roster spot, which the club will have more than a week to fill, having played on Thursday night.

Earlier updates:

  • The Jets have placed rookie wide receiver Devin Smith on injured reserve due to the torn ACL he suffered in last week’s win over the Titans, the team announced today in a press release. Smith, the 37th overall pick in this year’s draft, was one of many receivers selected in the top 50 whose rookie season was unspectacular — he caught just nine of 28 targets, for 115 yards and a TD. To replace Smith on their roster, the Jets have promoted linebacker Taiwan Jones from their practice squad.
  • The Falcons have also elevated a linebacker from their practice squad, announcing today in a press release that outside linebacker Tyler Starr has received a promotion. In a corresponding move, the club placed center James Stone on the injured reserve list. Per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link), Stone – who started nine games last season but just one this year – has a torn ACL.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/9/15

December 9th, 2015 at 5:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We’ll track the day’s minor transactions here, with the newest updates appearing at the top of the list:

  • In need of secondary help while T.J. Ward deals with a high ankle sprain, the Broncos have signed safety Shiloh Keo, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link). Keo, 27, played under Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips when both were with the Texans, and actually contacted the coach last week via Twitter in the hopes of landing a job.
  • As expected, the Patriots have signed cornerback Leonard Johnson, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, who reported this morning that Johnson was expected to land on New England’s roster following a Monday workout. Johnson offers experience — 17 starts for the Buccaneers from 2012-14 — but he hasn’t played in 2015.
  • The Buccaneers have an open roster spot due to Kwon Alexander‘s four-game suspension, and they’ve filled by signing fellow linebacker Orie Lemon, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Lemon has had a few stints on Tampa’s roster this season, logging 100 snaps (all on special teams).
  • The Seahawks have brought back a familiar face in signing Anthony McCoy, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Seattle, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). McCoy, who was released by Washington earlier this year, auditioned for the Seahawks last week. Seattle also signed safety Akeem Davis, Condotta adds.

Buccaneers Waive D.J. Swearinger

November 17th, 2015 at 3:18pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers announced that they have waived safety D.J. Swearinger. In addition to Swearinger, linebacker Orie Lemon has also been let go.

Swearinger, a former 2013 second-round pick, was cut loose by the Texans in May. Soon after, the Bucs used their No. 1 waiver priority to scoop up the 24-year-old. Swearinger, who totaled 145 tackles and three interceptions in 22 starts during the first two years of his career, struggled mightily in 2014. Pro Football Focus ranked him 78th out of 87 qualifying safeties after he allowed opposing quarterbacks a 99.2 passer rating against him.

Swearinger wasn’t able to get back on track in Tampa Bay, either, leading to his release today. As a Buccaneer, he played in seven games and made eleven tackles. He also recovered one fumble and added a stop on special teams.

In addition to the Bucs, the Jets, Jaguars, Raiders, Falcons, Bills, Steelers, and Ravens all put in claims on Swearinger this spring, so those clubs could conceivably show interest now that he’s once again available.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/15

October 7th, 2015 at 3:48pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up Wednesday’s minor transactions from around the league:

  • Will the ninth time be the charm for Andre Fluellen? As Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com details, the Lions have signed the veteran defensive lineman for his ninth different stint with the team. Given all the time he has spent in Detroit, Fluellen obviously knows the Lions’ defensive system, so he’ll help provide depth in the middle with Tyrunn Walker on IR and Haloti Ngata hurting as well.
  • We heard on Monday that tight end Daniel Fells was headed to the Giants‘ injured reserve list due to a staph infection, and the team made that move official today, confirming it in a press release. New York promoted wide receiver Myles White to its active roster from the practice squad to get back up to 53 players.
  • The Bears have elevated defensive back Demontre Hurst to their active roster, the team announced today (via Twitter). Hurst is the second practice squad to get a promotion this week, as the club parted ways with punter Spencer Lanning and linebacker John Timu.
  • The Buccaneers have re-added linebacker Orie Lemon to their 53-man roster, according to a team release. Lemon takes the roster spot vacated by defensive end Josh Martin, who was waived/injured by Tampa Bay.
  • The Texans have reached a three-week injury settlement with linebacker Mike Mohamed, removing him from their IR, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The agreement allows Mohamed to sign with another team in three weeks, though he can’t return to Houston for nine weeks.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/15

October 1st, 2015 at 3:35pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are the practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL for the first day of October:

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New York Jets

  • Signed: DL Deon Simon (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News)

San Diego Chargers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/21/15

September 21st, 2015 at 4:58pm CST by Zachary Links

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

  • The Buccaneers have cut Orie Lemon, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • Washington has released cornerback David Amerson, according to John Keim of ESPN.com. Amerson was taken No. 51 overall in 2013 and was the next cornerback taken off the board after Jonathan Banks. Needless to say, Washington would probably like a redo on that pick. To take his place, Washington re-signed defensive end Frank Kearse, Wilson tweets.
  • Texans tackle/guard Jeff Adams is done for the year with a knee injury, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets. After Adams went down on Sunday, it was widely reported that Adams was IR-bound.
  • Vikings cornerback Jabari Price was reinstated to the 53-man roster after his violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/16/15

September 16th, 2015 at 6:25pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves here…

  • According to Steve Corkan of RaiderBeat.com (Twitter link), the Raiders have promoted safety Tevin McDonald from their practice squad, giving the team some extra depth with Nate Allen sidelined and Charles Woodson also ailing.
  • The Patriots have added some depth at linebacker and on special teams by re-signing veteran LB Dekoda Watson, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Watson was with the Pats in camp before being cut at the end of August.
  • With the 53rd and final spot on their roster, the Buccaneers have re-signed linebacker Orie Lemon, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (via Twitter). Like Watson with the Pats, Lemon was with Tampa Bay in camp before being waived near the end of the preseason.

Earlier updates:

  • The Eagles have signed defensive lineman Brandon Bair to a one-year extension through 2016, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Bair, who will receive a $100K signing bonus, a $50K workout bonus, and a $675K base salary, mostly makes his mark on special teams and appeared in all 16 games for the Eagles last season.
  • On Wednesday morning, the Eagles signed center/guard Julian Vandervelde to the team’s 53-man roster, according to a team announcement. A fifth-round pick in 2011, Vandervelde has bounced around between the Eagles’ active roster and practice squad over the past four seasons. His ability to play both guard and center has made Vandervelde a valuable piece of the offensive line depth, as he appeared in 14 games in 2013.
  • The Jets announced that they released defensive lineman Kevin Vickerson (hamstring) off of the IR, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.
  • The Texans are signing KR-WR Chandler Worthy to the active roster from the practice squad, according to sources who spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Houston is now at the 53-man limit again after previously placing Ryan Griffin on IR-DTR.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/15

August 27th, 2015 at 4:53pm CST by Zachary Links

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

  • The Buccaneers announced (via Twitter) that they have waived kicker Brandon Bogotay, waived/injured linebacker Orie Lemon, and signed long snapper Brandon Hartson. The Bucs added a notable kicker in Connor Barth on Wednesday night.
  • The Patriots announced that they have released defensive lineman Antonio Johnson, tackle Mark Asper, and linebacker Cameron Gordon, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Patriots also waived/injured defensive end/tight end Jake Bequette, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Bequette was a third-round selection back in 2012.
  • The Eagles waived/injured linebacker Emmanuel Acho with a thumb injury that required surgery, according to a league source who spoke with Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Acho, 24, has spent parts of the past two seasons with the Eagles. He started two games in 2014 and played 23 percent of the defensive snaps.
  • The Packers signed former Lafayette wide receiver James Butler after a tryout, Weston Hodkiewicz of the Press Gazette tweets.

Minor Moves: Thursday

October 23rd, 2014 at 2:33pm CST by Luke Adams

Since Thursday is typically a quieter day for transactions during the NFL season, we’ll round up today’s minor 53-man roster and practice squad moves right here, rather than splitting them into separate posts. Here’s the latest:

  • The Broncos announced today (via Twitter) that they’ve released safety John Boyett from their practice squad following his arrest earlier this week on a misdemeanor third-degree assault charge.

Earlier updates:

  • The Chiefs have signed linebacker Darin Drakeford to their practice squad, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). Paylor adds that Drakeford takes the practice squad spot vacated by linebacker Orie Lemon, who has signed to the Buccaneers‘ 53-man roster. Tampa Bay had an opening on its roster after Da’Quan Bowers was moved to the reserve/suspended list for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
  • After clearing waivers, tight end Rashaun Allen has returned to the Seahawks, signing to the club’s practice squad, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.
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