Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Buffalo Bills
Detroit Lions
New York Giants
New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Buffalo Bills
Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers
New Orleans Saints
New York Jets
San Francisco 49ers
Washington Redskins
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Miami Dolphins
New Orleans Saints
Tennessee Titans
The Bills announced that they have signed defensive tackle Deandre Coleman and safety Robert Blanton. The addition of Coleman was necessary given the Bills’ issues in the middle of the defensive line.
The Bills are concerned about the status of Marcell Dareus‘ ankle and he may not be available for Sunday’s contest against the Broncos. Without Dareus, the Bills are expected to use either free agent pickup Cedric Thornton or Adolphus Washington in a starting role. Coleman will help to provide depth behind them while Jerel Worthy remains in concussion protocol.
Blanton, meanwhile, joins the roster just one day after the team dropped fellow safety Trae Elston.
The Bills, who may also be without left tackle Cordy Glenn, will take on the Broncos in Week 3.
Today’s workout update notes:
Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
Seattle Seahawks
The Cowboys navigated the busy cut week and moved down to the 53-man limit. Here are the players Dallas removed from its roster to reach the regular-season standard.
Released:
Waived:
Placed on Reserved/Suspended list:
Placed on IR:
Robert Blanton joined the Cowboys earlier this offseason, but he didn’t even make it to the regular season. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the organization has released the safety.
Blanton signed with Dallas earlier this offseason following a single season in Buffalo, where he compiled 35 tackles in 10 games (two starts). The 2012 fifth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career in Minnesota, where he served mostly as a backup defensive back. His best season came in 2014, when he compiled 106 tackles and one interception.
Roster Resource expected the 27-year-old to start at strong safety alongside Byron Jones. Following the release of Blanton, the Cowboys will now lean on one of Xavier Woods, Jeff Heath, and Kavon Frazier to fill that role.
Former Bills safety Robert Blanton has signed with the Cowboys, agent Jason Bernstein tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Blanton visited with the Cowboys earlier this offseason and, one month later, he has agreed to sign.
Blanton has mostly served as a second-stringer during his five years in the NFL, except for the 2014 season with the Vikings in which he started 13 games and made 105 tackles. He’s only gotten three starts in the last two years, but he could be in for a significant role after the Cowboys’ secondary was picked apart by free agency. The Cowboys now have four safeties on the roster in Byron Jones, Jeff Heath, Kavon Frazier, and Blanton. Dallas is expected to add to the thin cast in this month’s draft.
Last year, Blanton appeared in ten games (two starts) for Buffalo, amassing 26 tackles in total. A foot injury halted his season in November.
The Cowboys have observed defections across their secondary this month after seeing Barry Church, Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne sign elsewhere. They are thinner at both cornerback and safety but brought in a player with some experience for a visit today in Robert Blanton, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets.
Blanton has mostly served as a second-stringer during his five years in the NFL, with his work for the 2014 Vikings being an exception. Blanton started 13 games for the Vikes that year and made 105 tackles. Since, he’s been deployed as a first-unit player in just three games, two with the Bills last season.
But Blanton became part of a revolving Buffalo back-line crew after going on IR in late November. His one-year deal with the Bills produced 28 tackles. Dallas currently has just Jeff Heath and 2016 sixth-rounder Kavon Frazier as safeties alongside Byron Jones.
He’s back. Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the Bills have activated wideout Sammy Watkins from the injured reserve. ESPN’s Mike Rodak reports that Watkins is expected to play Sunday against the Jaguars. Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News tweets that the team has also released tight end Gerald Christian and placed safety Robert Blanton on the injured reserve. Finally, the Bills have also signed kickoff specialist Jordan Gay.
Watkins hasn’t played since Week 2 as he recovered from a lingering foot ailment, and he was placed on the injured reserve in late September. The wideout has been dealing with the foot injury since last May, when he had a screw inserted following a minor fracture. The 23-year-old struggled in his two games this season, hauling in only six catches for 63 yards. Of course, there’s no denying the talent of the former first-rounder, as Watkins finished the 2015 season with 60 catches for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns in only 13 games.
The Bills could certainly use some help at receiver, especially with Robert Woods listed as doubtful for this weekend’s game. The Bills rank dead last in receiving yards this season, and while that could partly be attributed to quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the team’s lack of big-play wideouts have certainly limited the offense’s potential.
The team will be welcoming back an offensive weapon, but they’ll be losing some depth on defense. Blanton has played in 10 games this season (two starts), compiling 35 tackles. The 27-year-old injured his foot during last week’s game against the Bengals. Blanton will join fellow Bills safeties Colt Anderson and Aaron Williams on the injured reserve.
Christian, the Mr.Irrelevent of the 2015 draft, made two appearances for the Bills this season. The team signed the 25-year-old to their practice squad during the offseason, and he was promoted to the active roster in early October. Christian has already been released by the Bills once this season, and he subsequently landed on the team’s practice squad. Therefore, it’s easy to assume that the tight end will probably end up sticking with the organization.
Gay served as the Bills kickoff specialist during the 2014 and 2015 season, and he was let go by the team in late September. Dan Carpenter will presumably continue with field goal and extra point opportunities, with Gay strictly contributing during kickoffs.