Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
Kansas City Chiefs
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
Washington Football Team
The Chiefs are adding a tight end behind Travis Kelce. Kansas City has agreed to terms with free agent Ricky Seals-Jones, a source told Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
In a follow-up tweet, Paylor notes it’s a one-year deal. It’s an interesting developmental pickup for the Chiefs, as Seals-Jones only turned 25 last month. He signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2017, and made some noise down the stretch of his rookie season. There was a lot of buzz surrounding the Texas A&M product heading into his second season, but he was arrested that summer and ended up underwhelming.
In 15 games and five starts in 2018, he caught 34 passes for 343 yards and a touchdown. He was waived at final cuts in 2019, and claimed by the Browns. The Steelers put in a claim as well. He ended up with 229 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games with Cleveland last year. He’s flashed plenty of potential in the past and the Chiefs don’t have much else behind Kelce, so he should be in line to be Kansas City’s number two in 2020.
Hines Ward is back in the NFL, this time as a coach. The legendary former Steelers receiver will join the Jets as an offensive assistant, the team announced in a release. Ward had been a coaching intern, and after impressing during camp got invited back as a member of the full-time staff. “He’s going to be an offensive assistant, he’s going to be working with the wideouts with Shawn so I think that’s a great addition for us. He’s done a lot of really good things with that group, helping out with those guys,” head coach Adam Gase said.
Ward has been working under receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, and that will continue. Ward finished his decorated career with 1,000 receptions and 85 touchdowns, winning two Super Bowls and a Super Bowl MVP Award. He also served as an executive with the now defunct AAF. He’s already made a positive impression on presumed number one Jets receiver Robby Anderson. “He’s a great resource because he’s done it at a high level consistently,” Anderson said. “He’s a future Hall of Famer so what more can I ask for? I’m picking his brain, and he’s more so telling me than I’m asking him, and I’m just staying on top of him. He’s just trying to find ways to get me better in each way.”
Here’s more from around the league:
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC North 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 Ravens, Bengals, Browns, and Steelers are noted below.
Additionally, as of today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. 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 AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
* = International Pathway Program player
Arizona has officially announced their cuts. Notably, the Cardinals trimmed their roster all the way down to 51 players, which they said was in preparation for waiver claims on Sunday. Arizona has first priority in the waiver order, so they’ll almost certainly be claiming some players.
The biggest name on this list is probably tight end Ricky Seals-Jones. He showed a lot of promise as an undrafted rookie in 2017, and was a favorite of Bruce Arians. He fell out of favor when Arians retired, and the new staff didn’t take as kindly to him. Seals-Jones has flashed serious potential, so he should land on his feet soon. Pharoh Cooper was a 2017 All-Pro selection for his return prowess, and the Cardinals claimed him off waivers from the Rams late last season. Three other teams also put in claims for Cooper at the time, so maybe one of them will scoop him up now. Receiver Chad Williams was the team’s third-round pick in 2017, but he barely got on the field during his two seasons in the desert.
QB Charles Kanoff
RB Wes Hills (injury settlement)
OL Rees Odhiambo (waived/injured)
OL Coleman Shelton
OL William Sweet (waived/injured)
OL Patrick Lawrence
OL Jacob Ohnesorge
S Jonathan Owens
S Tyler Sigler
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions
Miami Dolphins
Oakland Raiders
Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive rights free agent tender decisions:
Second round tender:
Tendered at original-round level:
Tendered:
Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones was arrested last Saturday on charges of assault, disorderly conduct, and criminal trespassing, according to KTAR News in Arizona.
Per the Scottsdale Police Department, Seals-Jones attempted to use a restroom both at the W Hotel and in a restaurant within the hotel, but was denied access in both instances, as staff told Seals-Jones only hotel guests were able to use the bathrooms. A hotel employee says Seals-Jones became combative and shoved the employee, but Seals-Jones maintains he tried to walk past the objecting staff before he was forced to the ground. The police report also indicates Seals-Jones appeared intoxicated when he was arrested.
If alcohol was a factor in Seals-Jones’ arrest, it would mark the second alcohol-related Cardinals incident this month. Arizona general manager Steve Keim was arrested and later plead guilty to extreme DUI earlier in July, and has subsequently been suspended and fined by the team. Keim will pay a $200K fine and spend five weeks away from the club, but there’s no word as to whether he’ll also face an NFL ban.
The NFL reserves the right to suspend players who have been involved in off-field incidents, even if said instances don’t result in legal discipline. Seals-Jones’ case may take a while to filter through the legal system, so regardless of outcome, he likely won’t be facing a ban in 2018. League discipline could come after Seals-Jones’ case is resolved, however, meaning a suspension may be looming in 2019.
Seals-Jones, 23, signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M in 2017. While he didn’t manage a reception until late November, Seals-Jones posted three receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns against the Texans before putting up a 4/72/1 line against the Jaguars the following week. Seals-Jones could be ticketed for starting duty if fellow tight end Jermaine Gresham isn’t ready for Week 1 after suffering a torn Achilles in the 2017 season finale.
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts
San Francisco 49ers
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, Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. 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: