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Steven Johnson

AFC Notes: Patriots, Texans, Steelers, Jags

February 17th, 2017 at 9:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The University of Alabama is hiring Patriots tight ends coach Brian Daboll as its new offensive coordinator, according to Chris Low of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Daboll, who has led offenses at the NFL level for the Browns, Dolphins, and Chiefs, was first linked to the Crimson Tide earlier this week by Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports. Former Texans play-caller George Godsey was also in consideration for the vacancy in Tuscaloosa, per Feldman.

Here’s more from the AFC:

  • Veteran safety Quintin Demps hasn’t engaged in contract negotiations with the Texans as of yet, and although the pending free agent would prefer to return to Houston in 2017, he’s not interested in offering the club any sort of hometown discount, Demps told SiriusXM NFL Radio today (Twitter links). Demps is entering his age-32 campaign, which could depress his value, but he’s started 26 games over the past two years and is coming off a season in which he graded as the league’s No. 12 safety, according to Pro Football Focus. After earning only $1.5MM in 2016, Demps should be in a for raise, but he’s not going to break the bank in a safety market that also includes Eric Berry, Tony Jefferson, and T.J. McDonald.
  • Tight end Ladarius Green is expected to be healthy enough to play in 2017, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert yesterday told reporters, including Chris Bradford of the Beaver County Times (Twitter link). Green only appeared in six games during his first campaign with Pittsburgh, as concussion issues limited his ability to get on the field. Although he provided 16.9 yards per reception when he was on the field, Green could represent too large a risk for the Steelers to undertake, especially given that his post-June 1 release would clear $5MM in cap space.
  • Defensive tackle Abry Jones‘ four-year, $16MM deal with the Jaguars contains $6.5MM in guarantees, which are comprised of a $2.5MM 2017 base salary, a $1MM roster bonus due next March, and $3MM 2018 base salary, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Meanwhile, backup quarterback Chad Henne‘s new one-year contract is worth $3.5MM, reports Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link), and contains a $500K signing bonus, a $750K roster bonus due on September 7, and $2.5MM available via incentives.
  • Steelers linebacker Steven Johnson‘s new deal is a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract that comes with $80K in guaranteed money, per Caplan (Twitter link). Under the terms of the MSB, Johnson will only count for $615K on Pittsburgh’s salary cap.

Steelers Re-Sign LB Steven Johnson

February 15th, 2017 at 8:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers have re-signed linebacker Steven Johnson to a one-year deal, the club announced today. Johnson had been set to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 9."<strong

[RELATED: Steelers Want To Retain Lawrence Timmons]

Johnson, 28, agreed to one-year deal with Pittsburgh last spring, was subsequently cut during the summer, then re-signed with the Steelers once fellow linebacker Bud Dupree went down with injury. While he didn’t play a single defensive snap during the 2016 campaign, Johnson did see action on 101 special teams snaps before being placed on injured reserve in November with an ankle issue.

Although he’ll likely serve in a special teams capacity once again in 2017, Johnson has a chance to see more playing time given that Lawrence Timmons and Jarvis Jones could both leave via free agency. Johnson, An undrafted free agent out of Kansas in 2012, Johnson spent time with the Broncos and Titans before joining the Steelers last year.

The Steelers have been the most active team in terms of re-signing their own free agents thus far in 2017, as they’ve agreed to new deals with Chris Boswell, Cobi Hamilton, Roosevelt Nix, Anthony Chickillo, and several others already this year.

Steelers Place LB Steve Johnson On IR

November 15th, 2016 at 10:16am CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers announced that they have placed linebacker Steve Johnson on IR. To take his spot, the team will re-sign L.J. Fort to the 53-man roster.

In the spring, Johnson signed a one-year minimum salary deal with Pittsburgh and has been yo-yo’d around by the Steelers ever since. While he wasn’t a key part of the Steelers’ defense this year, he was a cog on special teams and the team will have to replace him in the wake of his ankle injury. Johnson, 28, spent his first three NFL seasons in Denver before playing in Tennessee in 2015.

Fort, a five-year veteran, played in seven games for the Steelers this season. He was dropped from the roster last week to make room for the activation of Ladarius Green. The 26-year-old has appeared in seven games for the Steelers this season and has 24 total NFL games on his resume. Prior to joining the Steelers last year, Fort had stints with the Browns (2012) and one game with the Seahawks (2014).

Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC North

September 4th, 2016 at 6:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

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 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 AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Place Bud Dupree On IR

September 4th, 2016 at 3:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

3:27pm: Dupree had an operation to repair a core muscle tear, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who adds that Dupree is a candidate to return off IR later this year.

3:08pm: The Steelers announced that they’ve placed linebacker Bud Dupree on injured reserve, meaning he won’t play during the 2016 season. In his stead, the club has signed linebacker Steven Johnson.Bud Dupree (Vertical)

Dupree, 23, was Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in last year’s draft. In his rookie campaign, Dupree played on about half of the club’s defensive snaps, splitting time at outside linebacker with James Harrison, Arthur Moats, and Jarvis Jones. He appeared in all 16 games, starting five, and picked up 17 tackles and four sacks. A groin injury, however, will ensure that Dupree doesn’t see the field again until 2017.

Johnson, meanwhile, was signed by the Steelers over the offseason, but was released this weekend as part of final cutdowns. He’s spent time with the Broncos and Titans in four NFL seasons, appearing in 57 games during that time.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Steelers Trim Roster To 53

September 3rd, 2016 at 1:18pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers have reduced their roster to the league-mandated 53 players.

The following players have been cut:

As Fowler observes, the Steelers’ recent wave of offensive lineman cuts could be good news for B.J. Finney, who came into today firmly on the roster bubble. Feiler, like Feeney, is a practice squad candidate.

Hooks, an Ole Miss product, was signed by the Packers as a UDFA following the 2015 draft, but Green Bay cut him last August as part of the 75-man cutdown. He caught on with the Steelers in February, and at least made it to the final cutdown day, so that qualifies as progress.

Ahmed was part of the Falcons’ crop of UDFAs this year but was waived by Atlanta last month. The Temple product made the switch from defensive lineman to offensive lineman during his junior year, and he started 12 of 13 games at left guard for the feel-good Owls last year.

Rory Parks contributed to this post

Contract Details: P. Robinson, Robertson, Cook

March 28th, 2016 at 2:10pm CST by Luke Adams

Listed below are some specific details on several of the latest contracts recently agreed upon or signed by NFL free agents. All links courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle unless otherwise indicated.

AFC:

  • Patrick Robinson, CB (Colts): Three years, $14MM. $6MM guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus. $2MM roster bonus due this Tuesday. $1MM roster bonus due on fifth day of 2017 league year — becomes fully guaranteed if on roster beyond this Friday (all Twitter links).
  • Chris Hairston, OL (Chargers): Two years, $2.9MM. $550K signing bonus (Twitter link).
  • Brandon Thompson, DT (Bengals): One year, $840K. $50K signing bonus. $30K workout bonus. $150K incentive for playing time (Twitter link).
  • Leonard Hankerson, WR (Bills): One year, minimum salary benefit. $40K workout bonus. $40K first-game 53-man roster bonus (Twitter link).
  • Steven Johnson, LB (Steelers): One year, minimum salary benefit. $25K signing bonus. $55K first-game 53-man roster bonus (Twitter link).

NFC:

  • Craig Robertson, LB (Saints): Three years, $5MM. $1.965MM guaranteed. $1.2MM signing bonus. $250K roster bonus due on fifth day of 2017 league year. $275K due on fifth day of 2018 league year. Up to $1.5MM in annual incentives (Twitter links).
  • Jared Cook, TE (Packers): One year, $2.75MM. Up to $900K in incentives for catches, TDs, and Pro Bowl (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
  • Courtney Upshaw, OLB (Falcons): One year, $1.25MM. $390K signing bonus. $100K in per-game active roster bonuses. Up to $250K in incentives for playing time and playoffs (Twitter links).
  • Mike Morgan, LB (Seahawks): One year, $1MM. $200K signing bonus. $150K incentive for playing time (Twitter link).
  • Jamarca Sanford, S (Saints): One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K signing bonus. $130K of $885K salary is guaranteed (Twitter link).

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/25/16

March 25th, 2016 at 12:31pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Friday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL, with any new moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • The Bears have re-signed safety and special-teamer Chris Prosinski to a one-year contract, the team announced today (via Twitter). Although Prosinski, who turns 29 next month, did make five starts for the Bears last season, he has primarily been a reserve since entering the league in 2011, and figures to return to that role in 2016 if Antrel Rolle and Adrian Amos are healthy.
  • Linebacker Steven Johnson has agreed to a one-year contract with the Steelers, the team announced today (Twitter link via Burt Lauten). Johnson, 28 next Monday, spent his first three NFL seasons in Denver before playing in Tennessee in 2015. He projects as a depth piece and a special-teamer in Pittsburgh.

Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC South

September 6th, 2015 at 4:05pm 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 for the Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans are noted below.

Additionally, as of 11:00am 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

  • Claimed off waivers:
  • Cut:
  • Signed to practice squad (via press release)

    • OLB Daniel Adongo
    • G David Arkin
    • WR Quan Bray
    • WR Duron Carter
    • T Ulrick John
    • S Dewey McDonald
    • ILB Josh McNary
    • CB Eric Patterson
    • DT Jeris Pendleton
    • TE Erik Swoope

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Signed to practice squad (via press release):

    • DL Richard Ash
    • TE Ben Koyack
    • S Craig Loston
    • OL Chris Reed
    • WR Neal Sterling
    • LB Todd Thomas
    • DB Peyton Thompson
    • WR Tony Washington

Tennessee Titans

  • Claimed off waivers:
  • Acquired via trade:
    • RB Terrance West, from Browns (link)
  • Cut:
    • TE Chase Coffman (link)
    • LB Jonathan Massaquoi (link)
    • LB Justin Staples (link)
  • Signed to practice squad (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt):

    • S Josh Aubrey
    • RB David Fluellen
    • G Josue Matias
    • WR Tre McBride
    • G Will Poehls
    • WR Rico Richardson
    • TE Tevin Westbrook

Broncos Make Cuts, Down To 53 Players

September 5th, 2015 at 2:13pm CST by Luke Adams

The Broncos have officially announced the series of roster moves that reduces their roster to 53 players. In addition to confirming the previously-reported cuts of tight ends Dominique Jones and Marcel Jensen, along with the release of Tony Carter, the club announced 19 other moves.

Montee Ball‘s name was not mentioned among those moves, so the young running back, who was considered to be on the roster bubble, remains a Bronco for now. Here are the players who are no longer on Denver’s active roster, per a team release:

Released:

  • NT Sione Fua

Waived:

  • ILB Zaire Anderson
  • ILB Lamin Barrow
  • RB Kapri Bibbs
  • WR Isaiah Burse
  • C Dillon Day
  • S Josh Furman
  • G Ben Garland
  • ILB Steven Johnson
  • WR Corbin Louks
  • NT Chuka Ndulue
  • CB Taurean Nixon
  • OLB Gerald Rivers
  • T Kyle Roberts
  • T Charles Sweeton
  • WR Jordan Taylor
  • DE Josh Watson

Reserve/suspended:

  • S T.J. Ward
  • DE Derek Wolfe
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