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Stephen Morris

Dolphins, Eagles Claim QBs Off Waivers

September 6th, 2015 at 12:07pm CST by Luke Adams

The Dolphins and Eagles have claimed quarterbacks off waivers today, according to reports by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Per Rapoport, the Dolphins have been awarded former Cardinals signal-caller Logan Thomas, while Schefter reports that the Eagles have landed ex-Jaguars QB Stephen Morris.

Thomas, 24, was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by Arizona, but was considered fairly raw coming out of Virginia Tech and didn’t really get a chance to play for the Cards last year, despite the team’s injury woes. He was usurped on the depth chart by Matt Barkley in Arizona, and he’ll join a group in Miami that includes Ryan Tannehill and Matt Moore.

As for Morris, the undrafted quarterback out of Miami spent time on the Jaguars’ practice squad in 2014. He’ll replace Tim Tebow on Philadelphia’s roster, though it’s not clear if he’ll remain on the 53-man unit, or if the Eagles will eventually try to move him over to their taxi squad.

Jaguars Finalize Active Roster

September 5th, 2015 at 4:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sen’Derrick Marks avoided the physically unable to perform list to start the season when the Jaguars moved him to their active roster. The team also cut its roster down to 53 players, writes John Oehser of Jaguars.com.

The Jags’ leading sacker last season, Marks spent the preseason on the PUP list after tearing his ACL in Week 17 of last season.

Accompanying Jacksonville’s cuts, the team placed Ziggy Hood on injured reserve.

The Jaguars’ cuts are as follows:

  • Richard Ash, DT
  • Nordly Capi, DE
  • Kasey Closs, WR
  • Will Corbin, OL
  • Jeremiah George, LB
  • Connor Hamlett, TE
  • Jeremy Harris, CB
  • Ikponmwosa Igbinosun, DE
  • Storm Johnson, RB
  • Ben Koyack, TE
  • Erik Lora, WR
  • Craig Loston, S
  • Stephen Morris, QB
  • Austin Pasztor, OL
  • Chris Reed, G
  • Rashaad Reynolds, CB
  • Neal Sterling, WR
  • Todd Thomas, LB
  • Peyton Thompson, CB
  • Tony Washington, WR

Minor Moves: Wednesday

December 17th, 2014 at 4:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Wednesday’s minor roster moves from around the league, with the latest transactions added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • Cut yesterday by the Jets, defensive back Josh Thomas has already found a new home, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who tweets that the Lions have claimed Thomas off waivers. Thomas will take the roster spot vacated by LaAdrian Waddle, who was placed on injured reserve today, as noted below.
  • Safety Josh Bush is receiving a promotion to the Broncos‘ active roster from the club’s practice squad, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com adds (via Twitter) that the club is also re-signing tight end Dominique Jones, who was let go earlier in the week. Denver, after making multiple roster moves yesterday, had two roster spots available, so no corresponding move is required to clear room.

Earlier updates:

  • A pair of players will make the leap from the Jaguars‘ practice squad to their active roster, per Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union, who tweets that quarterback Stephen Morris and safety Matt Daniels have been promoted. The Jags had one opening, and created another by placing linebacker Khairi Fortt on injured reserve with a hamstring issue.
  • The Ravens are back up to 53 players on their roster after signing cornerback Chris Greenwood off the Vikings’ practice squad, tweets Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Greenwood is the latest player added to a secondary that has been decimated by injuries this season and lost Asa Jackson and Terrence Brooks in Week 15.
  • The Lions are placing offensive lineman LaAdrian Waddle on the injured reserve list due to his partially torn ACL, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).
  • After waiving tackle J’Marcus Webb yesterday, the Vikings will fill the open roster spot by signing safety Ahmad Dixon from off their practice squad, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. The well-traveled Dixon has already spent time with the Vikes, Dolphins, and Bears since being drafted by the Cowboys in May.
  • According to agent Howard Shatsky (Twitter link), his client, tight end Jerome Cunningham, has received a promotion from the Giants‘ practice squad to their active roster. The team has yet to officially confirm the call-up, but there’s an available roster spot at the moment, so it wouldn’t require a corresponding move.
  • The Buccaneers, another team with an open roster spot, have signed defensive end Lawrence Sidbury as their 53rd man, the team announced today in a press release. The ex-Falcon, who was released by the Texans in August, replaces cornerback Crezdon Butler, whom the Bucs cut yesterday.

Sunday Transactions: AFC South

August 31st, 2014 at 7:45pm CST by Luke Adams

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC South 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 are noted below.

Additionally, as of 11:00am CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. 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 South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Houston Texans:

Indianapolis Colts:

Jacksonville Jaguars:

  • Claimed off waivers: Mickey Shuler, TE (via Ryan O’Halloran on Twitter)
  • Cut: Marcel Jensen, TE (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter)
  • Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Cody Booth, T; DeAndre Coleman, DT; Henry Josey, RB (via Adam Caplan on Twitter); Craig Loston, S; Stephen Morris, QB; Kerry Taylor, WR; Tony Washington, WR; Marcus Whitfield, LB. The team has also added cornerback Peyton Thompson, reports Michael DiRocco (via Twitter), although the team has not officially announced the signing.

Tennessee Titans:

Jaguars Cut Roster To 53 Players

August 30th, 2014 at 4:52pm CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 4:52pm: As Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union notes (via Twitter), the following players were cut by the Jags today:

Since Ace Sanders is headed for the reserve-suspended list, the team was able to keep guard Tyler Shatley – who was reported below as having been cut – on its 53-man roster, tweets Oehser.

FRIDAY, 4:01pm: In addition to confirming the cuts noted below, the Jaguars have announced a slew of additional roster moves. Via John Oehser of Jaguars.com, here’s the full list, which reduces the team’s active roster count to 57 players:

Cut:

  • Cody Booth, OT
  • Chad Bumphis, WR
  • Deandre Coleman, DL
  • Ricky Havili-Heimuli, DT
  • Craig Loston, S
  • Drew Nowak, G
  • Kasey Redfern, K/P
  • Gerald Rivers, DE
  • Tyler Shatley, G
  • D.J. Tialavea, TE
  • Marcus Whitfield, LB

Waived-injured:

Place on injured reserve:

3:33pm: The Jaguars have started the process of reducing the number of players on their active roster from 75 to 53, as they look to finalize their regular-season roster in time for tomorrow’s deadline. Here are Jacksonville’s Friday cuts, with any additional moves added to the list throughout the day:

Jaguars Notes: Stanzi, Joeckel, Clemons

May 31st, 2014 at 8:06pm CST by Peter Sowards

The Jaguars claimed quarterback Ricky Stanzi off waivers last season after he was released by the Kansas City Chiefs. Some stated this was a play by the Jags to pick Stanzi’s brain — Jacksonville played Kansas City Week 1, and lost, 28-2 — but the former Iowa QB is still in Northeast Florida, holding on to a roster spot.

That roster spot got less assured when the team selected Blake Bortles No. 3 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, as Vito Stellino of The Florida Times-Union writes.

And, for three straight seasons since college, Stanzi hasn’t had an opportunity to see the field, inactive for all but four games last year.

As it stands right now, the Jags have four QBs on the roster — Stanzi, Bortles, veteran Chad Henne and Stephen Morris, an undrafted free agent rookie from Miami who projects as a developmental player.

Stellino writes that Stanzi has made a good impression on head coach Gus Bradley, who was surprised with the slinger’s arm strength.

More news and notes from “America’s Team,” as NFL.com’s Adam Schein likes to call them:

  • Luke Joeckel, the former Texas A&M offensive tackle selected No. 2 overall in last year’s draft, is hoping to put the injury that sidelined him after five games last season behind him, writes Hays Carlyon of jacksonville.com. Joeckel participated in all three OTA practices and said he was pleased with how his ankle held up.
  • Henne, Stanzi, wide receiver Cecil Shorts, defensive end Andre Branch and safety Jonathan Cyprien were named by Bradley as players who stood out during the team’s first week of OTAs, The Times-Union reports. Bradley said he has “98% confidence” that defensive end Chris Clemons will be on the field Monday when the team gets back on the field.
  • While the biggest challenge facing the Jags in 2014 is getting Bortles ready to play, The Times-Union’s Gene Frenette says no challenge is more daunting than meshing the team’s rag-tag offensive line.

Jags To Sign 17 UDFAs, Cut Six Players

May 12th, 2014 at 10:46am CST by Luke Adams

10:46am: The Jaguars’ final three cuts were running back Delone Carter, defensive tackle Drake Nevis, and wideout Stephen Williams, according to O’Halloran (via Twitter).

10:02am: Fullback Shaun Chapas will also be among the Jaguars’ cuts, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

9:52am: The Jaguars have cut guard Will Rackley and wide receiver Jeremy Ebert, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter). The moves won’t be the last ones for the club today — O’Halloran notes (via Twitter) that with 17 undrafted free agents being added to the roster, six players will need to be released to make room, meaning four more cuts should be on the way.

Rackley and Ebert were both in the final year of their respective contracts, with Rackley set to earn a $1.431MM base salary, while Ebert was on a minimum salary deal. Rackley started 11 games at left guard for Jacksonville last season and his performance ranked 79th out of 81 qualified guards, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). Meanwhile, Ebert hauled in three passes in his time with the team.

As for the Jaguars’ undrafted free agent signings, PR coordinator Tad Dickman has the full list (via Twitter):

  • Jeff Budzien, K, Northwestern
  • Terrance Cobb, RB, Cumberland
  • Deandre Coleman, DT, California
  • Damian Copeland, WR, Louisville
  • Trevor Gillette, LS, Rice
  • Ricky Havili-Heimuli, DT, Oregon
  • Allen Hurns, WR, Miami (FL) ($5K bonus and $15K in other guarantees, per Aaron Wilson)
  • Marcel Jensen, TE, Fresno State
  • Reggie Jordan, TE, Missouri Western
  • Craig Loston, S, LSU
  • Stephen Morris, QB, Miami (FL) ($5K bonus and $30K in other guarantees, per Wilson)
  • Rashaad Reynolds, CB, Oregon State
  • Tyler Shatley, G, Clemson
  • D.J. Tialavea, TE, Utah State
  • Josh Wells, OT, James Madison
  • Marcus Whitfield, LB, Maryland
  • Chad Zinchini, P, Tennessee Tech

Poll: Best Late Round Quarterback?

May 10th, 2014 at 3:52pm CST by Rob DiRe

Just because they don’t have the fanfare of a Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t mean the day three quarterbacks are destined to be career backups. A handful of high-caliber NFL quarterbacks do get selected in the later rounds.

Not every quarterback drafted in the sixth round is going to turn into Tom Brady–most first-round quarterbacks won’t accomplish half of what Brady has–but many if not all of these fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh-round quarterbacks will have a chance to push for a starting job at some point in their career, either by performance or by injury.

The question is, which of these quarterbacks is going to have the best chance to find success as a starter in the NFL? That takes a combination of talent and opportunity, where some of these draftees have definite roadblocks in front of them in the form of quarterbacks entrenched as starters.

Of course, a few more quarterbacks will still come off the board in the next 50+ picks, and a couple more will be snagged as undrafted free agents. Maybe Stephen Morris of Miami, Tahj Boyd of Clemson, Garrett Gilbert of SMU, Keith Price of Washington, Brett Smith of Wyoming, or Connor Shaw of South Carolina ends up being the best of the group, although they are still waiting to hear their names called.

Dolphins Looking To Add A Quarterback

May 10th, 2014 at 2:19pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Dolphins are looking for a potential quarterback now in the draft, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). He notes the team could be interested in Stephen Morris of Miami (via Twitter).

The team still has Ryan Tannehill, who will be entering a crucial third season with the team. While he has not been a bust just yet, he may not be developing as quickly as the team would have hoped. Behind Tannehill are Matt Moore and Pat Devlin, which is not the worst set of backups in the league.

If the team stays away from Morris, there is still a bevy of options to choose from in the rest of the draft, including David Fales of San Jose State and Zach Mettenberger of LSU.

AFC Notes: Bridgewater, Texans, Dolphins

April 18th, 2014 at 12:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Teddy Bridgewater visited with the Jaguars earlier in the month, but it appears Jacksonville is interested enough in the Louisville quarterback to take a longer look at him. According to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Bridgewater is scheduled to have a second meeting and workout tomorrow with the Jags. Jacksonville isn’t the only AFC South team eyeing the young signal-caller. While we originally heard that Bridgewater was supposed to visit the Texans this week, it seems that visit will actually happen next week, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Texans need a quarterback, and you could make a case for the team drafting a player like Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles first overall, but Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com thinks Houston should nab Jadeveon Clowney with the No. 1 pick in May. In La Canfora’s view, Clowney is the clear-cut top prospect available, and the Texans would be better off letting Bill O’Brien “work his magic” on a quarterback drafted in the second or third round.
  • James Walker of ESPN.com suggests the Dolphins‘ fifth-year option decision on center Mike Pouncey isn’t as simple as it may seem on the surface, though the team is still likely to pick up that 2015 option.
  • The amount of homework the Dolphins have done on quarterbacks like Miami’s Stephen Morris and Georgia’s Aaron Murray signals that the team could seriously be considering drafting a signal-caller next month, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
  • The current plan for Rolando McClain is to have the linebacker join the Ravens as early as Monday for the team’s offseason workout program, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • Boston College running back Andre Williams has drawn the most interest from the Patriots, Browns, Steelers, and Jets, says Wilson at the National Football Post.
  • Wilson also reports (via the Sun) that Wisconsin nose tackle Beau Allen and Bowling Green tight end Alex Bayer visited the Ravens this week, and writes (via the NFP) that the Jets will host Murray State wide receiver Walter Powell for a visit on Monday.
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